Student evacuation amid Tanzania election unrest

On 29 October 2025, widespread unrest broke out across Tanzania as voting began for the general election. Urban centres including Dar es Salaam, Dodoma and Arusha saw protests escalate quickly, with security forces using tear gas and live ammunition to disperse crowds. A nationwide internet shutdown quickly followed.

The unrest was largely driven by public dissatisfaction with the incumbent government and a perceived lack of electoral fairness. When provisional results were announced on 30 October, tensions rose further.

Amid this, a long-standing university client contacted us without delay. Seven of their medical elective students were stranded in three locations. The university moved quickly to explore evacuation options before conditions worsened.

Six students were near Arusha. One was alone on the east coast of Zanzibar. Curfews, roadblocks and military checkpoints restricted movement. Some airports temporarily suspended operations, while others saw regular delays and cancellations of international flights. With internet access down, communication was limited to mobile calls. The group was fragmented, and time was critical.

Our team acted immediately. A Healix team leader already in Zanzibar travelled to reach the isolated student. Meanwhile, our ground team mobilised within three hours to support the six students near Arusha. We established Points of Contact at each location to manage readiness and packing. With no internet, we replaced digital instructions with clear verbal briefings, sharing ticket details, movement plans and timings. This ensured everyone understood what to do and when.

Within 24 hours of the initial call, all seven students were safely evacuated on commercial flights. Despite severe restrictions, the operation ran smoothly. The university praised the clarity and structure of our response, noting the reassurance it gave to both students and their families.