Amnesty International has urged the Tanzanian government to release opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who was arrested on April 9, 2025, during a political rally in Mbinga. Lissu, chairman of the opposition party CHADEMA, faces charges of treason and publishing false information, which his legal team and human rights organizations argue are politically motivated.
According to Reuters, Lissu was detained after addressing a rally where he called for electoral reforms ahead of the October 2025 general elections. Police reportedly used tear gas and live ammunition to disperse the crowd, leading to Lissu’s arrest. At his court appearance, he was denied the opportunity to enter a plea on the treason charge and remains in custody, with a subsequent court date scheduled for later this month.
Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, Tigere Chagutah, condemned the arrest, stating that the Tanzanian authorities should “focus on upholding fundamental human rights,” including the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, rather than using “heavy-handed tactics to silence critics.”
Lissu’s arrest comes amid increasing concerns over the suppression of political opposition in Tanzania. Human rights groups have criticized President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration for actions that they perceive as attempts to stifle dissent, although the government denies these allegations.
In 2017, Lissu survived an assassination attempt in which he was shot 16 times. He returned to Tanzania in 2024 after a period of exile, following the lifting of a ban on political rallies by President Hassan.
The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, with calls for the Tanzanian government to respect democratic principles and human rights.
Tundu Lissu Picture on Wikimedia by T Lissu
