Tanzania’s Chief of Army Staff, Jacob John Mkunda, announced that the army would work alongside security forces to restore calm, as protests contesting the election results continue.

According to local media, the protests, which began three days ago in the economic capital Dar es Salaam, are continuing despite the presence of law enforcement.

The army will intervene jointly with security units, Mkunda said, while condemning the demonstrations and accusing the protesters of illegal acts.

Speaking on state television, he warned that the defense forces would take “legal action” against anyone who disturbs public order.

In the capital Dar es Salaam, hundreds of protesters demanded the suspension of the publication of results by the Electoral Commission, believing that the election lacked transparency.

While the government has not released an official death toll, Amnesty International reported that two people lost their lives during the October 29 protests.

The protests have spread to other cities, prompting authorities to postpone the reopening of universities and colleges, initially scheduled for November 3.

Tanzanian public television has published the first results, confirming the victory of the ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), which has been in power since 1961.

According to these results, the CCM also retains the presidency in the semi-autonomous region of Zanzibar. The Zanzibar Electoral Commission announced that the incumbent president, Hussein Mwinyi, had obtained 78.8% of the vote.

The opposition denounced “serious irregularities” in the electoral process and indicated that it would soon announce the measures it intends to take in response.