Psychological Trauma Among Families of the 2025 Post-Election Protest Victims in Tanzania: A Qualitative Thematic Analysis

The 2025 post-election violence in Tanzania produced not only political and human rights consequences but also profound psychological wounds among the families of victims. This qualitative study examines the short- and long-term mental health effects experienced by bereaved relatives following protest-related fatalities and explores how they navigate grief and uncertainty in the absence of official recognition or support. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 28 family members, purposively and snowball-sampled from three regions affected by protest-related violence. Data were analysed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis framework. The findings reveal pervasive traumatic grief, persistent fear and social withdrawal, significant socio-economic disruption, and a strong reliance on religious and communal coping mechanisms. This study adds new insights by highlighting the often-neglected psychological experiences of families of protest victims in Tanzania. This group has received limited attention in trauma and political violence research. It demonstrates how the lack of acknowledgement and accountability creates a state of “frozen grief” that extends suffering. The results emphasise the critical need for trauma-informed psychosocial support, official recognition of losses, and policy measures to reduce long-term psychological damage in affected families.