Pope

Pope Leo meets with Tanzania's Foreign Minister

A commission of inquiry is at work in the country to establish who was responsible for the violence that broke out during elections last October.

By Vatican News

Before the general audience on Wednesday, Pope Leo met with Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, Tanzania's Foreign Minister.

The minister is on an international trip and brought a message from President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who was confirmed as the country's leader in last October's elections.

During the voting period at the end of October 2025, there were clashes and violence which, according to international media, caused hundreds of deaths.

The President of Tanzania has set up a commission of inquiry, which is already working to reconstruct what happened. It came as a shock in a country that had previously been peaceful, and where there had been no particular social tensions.

The violence was condemned by all Tanzanian religious authorities, from bishops to imams, with calls for an independent investigation to ascertain the facts and establish who was responsible.

Pope Leo XIV spoke publicly about the situation in the country at the Angelus on 2nd November: “Let us also pray for Tanzania, where, following the recent elections, violent clashes have broken out, leaving many victims. I urge everyone to avoid all forms of violence and to follow the path of dialogue."