Obinna vs. Cassypool: Fiery Clash Erupts Over Larry Madowo's CNN Exposé on Tanzania Election Killings

A fiery debate erupted between content creator Oga Obinna and social commentator Cassypool regarding the integrity of a recent CNN investigation.

 The exposé, led by journalist Larry Madowo, detailed alleged killings and mass graves following Tanzania’s 29 October 2025 election.

Cassypool, often seen as a staunch supporter of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, has publicly dismissed the report’s findings. Obinna strongly defended Madowo’s journalism and questioned Cassypool’s motivations.

The Controversial Exposé

Larry Madowo’s CNN investigation focused on severe post-election violence in Tanzania. The chaos erupted after citizens protested claims that the election had been unfair.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan secured a win with 98% of the vote.The CNN report relied on forensic analysis of videos, satellite imagery, and testimony from over 100 Tanzanians.

It found evidence that police had killed protesters. Specific incidents included the death of a three-month pregnant woman in Arusha, who was shot in the back by armed police.

The sheer number of fatalities quickly overwhelmed the infrastructure. Morgues in cities like Mwanza and Dar es Salaam were reportedly full, with bodies piled outside or spread across the floor.

Mass Graves Allegations

A central element of the report involved allegations that police used mass graves to hide the true number of deaths. Video evidence reportedly showed large areas of freshly turned soil.

While CNN noted it could not independently verify the graves’ existence, satellite imagery offered supporting evidence. Imagery of a cemetery before and after the protests reportedly showed disturbance in the soil.

The main opposition party suggested that as many as 2,000 people were killed during the weeklong unrest.

ALSO READ: What We Know So Far About Larry Madowo Vs Tanzania Gov’t Over Alleged Post-Election Killings

The Tanzanian government stated it was reviewing the documentary and would issue an official response.

Madowo countered, stating the government "tried to block this story from getting out" and refused to answer detailed questions prior to the broadcast.

Clash Over Facts and Propaganda

Cassypool vehemently rejected the mass grave claims. He labelled the report as propaganda, "being cooked by the same international media house being used by our local brother".

Cassypool argued that the idea of mass graves near the city was not credible.

“You cannot kill people. Even the military cannot kill people and bury them near the city. If they have to bury, they have to bury in the forest,” Cassypool stated.

He suggested that Madowo was intentionally painting a negative image of Africa. He also questioned why the journalist was not covering events in Palestine.

Oga Obinna, however, defended the journalist’s professionalism. Obinna pointed out that Madowo went to school, understood media ethics, and had been in the industry for a long time.

Obinna highlighted Madowo’s broader body of work, noting the journalist has produced many positive pieces about Africa.

“You have a problem with Larry covering the bad things happening?” Obinna asked him.

He challenged Cassypool to provide factual figures to counter the report.

Ultimately, Obinna accused Cassypool of deflecting from the core issue of unnecessary loss of life in Tanzania.