NAIROBI, Kenya

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan announced on Friday the formation of a special commission to investigate the deaths and destruction linked to recent post-election protests, telling lawmakers that recognizing the root cause of the violence is critical for setting a path to peace.

President Samia spoke at the opening of Tanzania's 13th Parliament in the capital, Dodoma, expressing condolences to families who lost relatives during the unrest and saying the events that followed the October election have deeply affected her.

In her speech, she said the government has "formed a commission to investigate what happened so that we understand the root of the problem." That report will guide us as we embark on dialogue and efforts to restore understanding and peace."

She said the violence has "pained" her and that she would pray for the injured. The president also asked for patience from those who lost property during the clashes, saying the country is in a difficult situation.

Samia reminded citizens that elections continue to be a legitimate means of expressing dissatisfaction with leadership, adding: "Participating in elections is the sure and safe way of changing leaders you are not satisfied with."

Her remarks come as rights groups and opposition figures accuse security forces of using excessive, sometimes lethal, force against demonstrators. Authorities claim that security personnel moved to restore order and protect public infrastructure.

The formation of the investigative commission is the government's first formal step toward addressing the events that have sparked concern both domestically and internationally.

The administration has not provided official casualty figures, but local and international observers have confirmed numerous deaths and injuries.

The president said the commission's findings will guide measures aimed at reducing tensions and strengthening national unity. The government has yet to announce who will serve on the commission or when it will present its findings.

Over 40 African civil society organizations have earlier called for the prosecution of security officials for what they allege are roughly 3,000 killings since the Oct. 29 elections.

They are demanding Samia’s resignation, accusing authorities of suppressing voters during the election in which she won 97.66% of the vote, or 31,913,866 out of 32,678,844 ballots cast, according to the National Electoral Commission.