On the arrest and risk of execution of Tundu Lissu, Chair of Chadema, the main opposition party in Tanzania

B100261/2025

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the arrest and risk of execution of Tundu Lissu, Chair of Chadema, the main opposition party in Tanzania

(2025/2690(RSP))

The European Parliament,

− having regard to Rule 150(5) of its Rules of Procedure

A.whereas on 9 April 2025, Tanzanian police arrested Tundu Lissu, the chairperson of the country’s main opposition party, Chadema, after violently dispersing the political rally he was holding;

B.whereas on 10 April, Lissu was presented before the court, and charged with the non-bailable offence of treason, and three offences of publication of false information under cybercrime laws, in relation to social media posts denouncing electoral malpractices; whereas treason in Tanzania carries a potential death sentence;

C.whereas on 12 April, Chadema was disqualified from contesting the October 2025 elections after party officials refused to sign the election code of conduct until the government undertook electoral reforms;

D.whereas ahead of the November 2024 local elections, the government impeded opposition meetings, arbitrarily arrested hundreds of opposition supporters, imposed restrictions on social media access, including content on LGBTQI+ rights, and banned independent media; whereas thousands of opposition candidates were disqualified from participating; whereas at least four government critics forcibly disappeared and one Chadema official was abducted and brutally killed;

E.whereas despite the positive steps initially taken towards greater political freedom after President Hassan took office in 2021, the government has subsequently resorted to violent repression of dissent;

1.Strongly condemns the recent violent crackdowns and police violations against Tanzania’s opposition members and government critics, and the irregular arrest of Tundu Lissu;

2.Calls on the Tanzanian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Tundu Lissu and to withdraw the charges brought against him without respect for fair trial standards;

3.Calls upon President Hassan to honour the commitments she made at her inauguration to steer the country back towards democratic progress;

4.Urges Tanzanian authorities to end the escalating crackdown, arbitrary arrests, violence, and attacks and harassment on opposition members, human and queer rights defenders, journalists and civil society organisations, to thoroughly, promptly and impartially investigate any allegations of police abuse and enforced disappearances, to uphold the rule of law, freedom of expression, press, media and association, and judicial independence, to respect the rights of political parties to organise, and to ensure free and fair elections;

5.Calls on the Tanzanian government to establish a moratorium on executions and take steps towards the full abolition of the death penalty; reiterates its categorical opposition to the death penalty under any circumstances and calls for its universal abolition;

6.Calls on the Tanzanian government to bring the country’s cybercrime and media laws in line with international human rights law standards;

7.Calls on the EU and its Member States to step up engagement with the Tanzanian authorities and to ensure observation of trials against government critics and opposition members;

8.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the HR/VP, the Member States, the African Union, the UN and the Government and Parliament of Tanzania.