DAR ES SALAAM — Retired Chief Justice Mohamed Othman Chande has said digital forensic investigations conducted by the Commission of Inquiry established that some images and videos widely circulated on social media during the unrest surrounding the October 29, 2025 General Election were manipulated using artificial intelligence to create a false impression of widespread killings and mass casualties.
Justice Chande made the remarks today, April 23, 2026, at State House while presenting the commission’s findings to President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
He said forensic experts engaged by the commission were able to distinguish between authentic and manipulated digital content through specialised forensic analysis.
“One example is the image repeatedly circulated to depict bodies in blue bags allegedly being buried in mass graves. Investigations established that the same image has been used in different parts of the world,” Justice Chande said.
According to the commission chairperson, the inquiry relied on evidence and information gathered from multiple sources in line with internationally recognised standards of proof applied by commissions of inquiry.
He said the approach ensured that evidence collected by the commission was credible, verifiable and sufficiently comprehensive.
Justice Chande said the commission collected 450 still images and 880 video recordings from various channels during the investigation.
The materials included content repeatedly circulated online, submissions from witnesses, information provided by security agencies, and material obtained from open sources such as media organisations and social media platforms.
He said the digital forensic analysis formed part of broader investigations aimed at establishing the authenticity of information circulated during and after the unrest linked to the 2025 General Election.
