An official inquiry in has revealed that 518 people lost their lives due to “unnatural causes” during the unrest that followed last year’s general election, including 197 who were shot d3ad.

The commission’s chairman, , disclosed the figures but did not assign blame, instead calling for further investigations to determine responsibility.

This marks the first time authorities have publicly released a death toll from the vi0lence. Previously, opposition groups and human rights organisations had accused security forces of carrying out a harsh crackdown on protesters, alleging that thousands were k!lled.

President was declared the winner of the October 29 election with 98% of the vote. However, opposition figures dismissed the outcome as undemocratic, citing the exclusion of key challengers.

At the time, the president defended the election as free and fair, attributing the unrest to foreign interference aimed at destabilising her government.

International observers, including the and , raised concerns about the credibility of the electoral process, noting it fell short of accepted democratic standards.

Investigations by the also verified footage showing police firing toward protesters and deploying tear gas to disperse crowds, with gunshots audible as demonstrators fled.

The scale of the violence was widely seen as unexpected for a country long viewed as relatively stable and peaceful. In response to the report, President Samia acknowledged that the events deeply affected the nation but maintained that security forces acted to prevent chaos and maintain order.