MWE Correspondent
A Turkish-born Tanzanian businessman, Alptekin Zeynelabidin Aksoy, 52, was gunned down by unidentified assailants in broad daylight in the Kinondoni area of Dar es Salaam, sending shockwaves through the local and international business communities.
The shooting occurred around 11:30 a.m. on Friday, July 18, 2025, near Makaburini Cemetery, as Aksoy was arriving at his office. According to preliminary reports from the Dar es Salaam Special Police Zone, the attackers fled immediately after firing several close-range shots.
“The deceased had just alighted from his car when he was approached and fatally shot. We are treating this as a targeted killing,” said Commander Jumanne Muliro, the region’s top police official.
Mr. Aksoy was a well-known entrepreneur with decades of business involvement in construction, real estate, and heavy machinery sectors. He had reportedly moved to Tanzania in the 1990s and later naturalized as a Tanzanian citizen.
Locals described him as generous, deeply integrated into Tanzanian society, and respectful of local customs. “He wasn’t just a businessman. He supported schools, clinics, and offered jobs to many,” said a community elder who worked with Aksoy on charity initiatives.
While the motive remains unclear, police sources and acquaintances speculate a possible link to ongoing legal disputes concerning his family business empire. Reports suggest Aksoy had been embroiled in a complex inheritance battle involving properties and multi-million dollar contracts following the death of a relative.
Security analysts say the bold nature of the killing raises concerns about contract killings, a form of organized crime that is increasingly appearing in African commercial hubs. Aksoy’s killing, occurring in a normally calm neighborhood, has unnerved both residents and expatriate investors in East Africa.
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“If someone so visible and respected can be murdered in daylight, who is safe?” questioned one business associate under condition of anonymity.
The Tanzania Police Force has launched a full investigation. Detectives are reviewing CCTV surveillance footage from surrounding buildings and speaking with eyewitnesses. Authorities also hinted at a potential reward for information leading to arrests.
“This was not a random crime. It was calculated and executed with military precision,” Commander Muliro emphasized. “We urge the public to remain calm and support investigations by reporting anything suspicious.”
In the wake of the murder, security has been tightened in commercial zones across Dar es Salaam, especially where foreign investors operate. The killing also casts a spotlight on the growing need for reforms and enforcement in urban crime prevention strategies.
As condolences pour in from both Turkey and Tanzanian communities, family friends are calling for a peaceful and transparent investigation. Aksoy is survived by his wife and three children, who are reportedly under police protection.
This tragic incident not only mourns the loss of a respected businessman but raises broader questions about entrepreneurial safety, the protection of foreign investors, and the increasing intersection of business disputes and violent crime in East Africa’s growing economies.
