The protests that have rocked Tanzania since controversial elections spread to the border with Kenya on Thursday. Clashes between demonstrators and Tanzanian police brought cross-border traffic to a complete standstill in the town of Namanga.

According to witnesses, the situation worsened when Tanzanian security forces fired tear gas grenades across the border. The unrest severely disrupted trade, leaving traders and travelers stranded while authorities from both nations attempted to bring the situation under control.

This escalation of the unrest comes as nationwide protests continued for a second consecutive day. Wednesday's elections, marked by low voter turnout, quickly descended into chaos: a bus and a gas station were set ablaze, police stations were attacked, and polling stations were vandalized. Amnesty International reported the deaths of two people—a civilian and a police officer—during Wednesday's violence. The government has not yet commented on this toll.

These elections took place against a backdrop of increased control of power by the ruling party since 1961, the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM). The main opposition candidates were barred from running, leaving the incumbent president, Samia Suluhu Hassan, to face 16 candidates from smaller parties who had conducted low-key campaigns.

Despite the protests, the electoral body announced Thursday morning on state television that President Hassan was in the lead, receiving 96.99% of the votes in 8 of the 272 constituencies counted.

Meanwhile, members of the European Parliament said in a statement on Thursday that the election was "neither free nor fair" and urged democratic partners to "firmly defend democracy and human rights" in Tanzania.