The European Parliament has submitted a motion for a resolution (2025/2690(RSP)) expressing deep concern over the recent arrest of Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu and the broader political climate ahead of the country’s general elections scheduled for October 2025.
Lissu, the Chair of the main opposition party, CHADEMA, was arrested on April 9, 2025, and charged with treason a day later — a crime that could carry the death penalty under Tanzanian law.
His arrest follows mounting tensions between the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party and the opposition, amid growing calls for electoral reform.
On April 12, the Independent National Elections Commission (INEC) controversially barred CHADEMA from contesting the upcoming elections.
The European Parliament motion raises alarm at these developments, particularly in light of past incidents involving enforced disappearances and politically motivated killings.
The resolution, citing Tanzania’s Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, calls on Tanzanian authorities to ensure justice for victims of political repression and to immediately release Lissu.
It further urges dialogue between CCM and opposition parties and calls on the African Union to help mediate a solution.
While acknowledging Tanzanians’ support for limitations on free speech as per an Afrobarometer survey, the motion emphasizes that development aid — including €726 million from the EU and €1.2 billion in bilateral support — must be tied to democratic principles and effective governance.
The resolution also voices concern about Tanzania’s deepening health crisis, ongoing poverty, and projected population surge, warning these factors may fuel mass emigration if not addressed.
