Tanzania’s Top Opposition Leader Charged With Treason In Court
On Thursday, a Tanzanian court accused opposition party leader Tundu Lissu of treason over comments he made last week urging the public to delay elections scheduled for later this year.
Lissu, the head of the largest opposition party CHADEMA and the 2020 presidential election runner-up was arrested on Wednesday following a demonstration in the southwestern province of Ruvuma.
Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu has been charged with treason and publishing false information.
— Samira Sawlani (@samirasawlani) April 10, 2025
Mr Lissu was arrested yesterday after addressing a public rally – he and the Chadema opposition party have been calling for electoral reforms.
Charge sheets: pic.twitter.com/5rQbYi8GpC
Lissu was denied the opportunity to enter a plea to the treason accusation during a court appearance in commercial Dar es Salaam. He pled not guilty to another allegation of posting false information.
The charge would draw further attention to President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s human rights record as she seeks re-election.
Hassan received praise after taking office in 2021 for lessening the repression of political opponents and media censorship that had become commonplace under her predecessor, John Magufuli, who died while in office.
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However, she has faced growing condemnation from human rights organizations for a series of arrests, mysterious abductions, and killings of political opponents.
Hassan has stated that the government is committed to upholding human rights, and she launched an investigation into suspected abductions last year.
Lissu has been holding demonstrations across the country in support of his party’s “No reforms, no election” campaign.
Tanzania’s Top Opposition Leader Charged With Treason In Court
