Tundu Lissu charged with treason in Tanzania amid crackdown
- Tundu Lissu was denied access to his lawyers and has been held under harsh conditions since his arrest.
- His party, Chadema, was disqualified from the upcoming elections for refusing to sign an electoral code.
- International rights groups have called for Lissu's release amid concerns over political repression in Tanzania.
Tanzania has been witnessing political unrest, particularly surrounding the opposition party Chadema. In April 2025, Tundu Lissu, the party's leader, was arrested and charged with treason after advocating for electoral reforms during a public rally. His detention has raised concerns from international human rights organizations, which have called for his immediate release, citing serious violations of his legal rights. Lissu claimed that since his arrest, he had been denied private consultations with his legal team and has been subjected to harsh prison conditions, including being held in a death row section despite not yet being convicted. His party's involvement in the upcoming elections has been jeopardized, as Chadema was disqualified after refusing to sign an electoral code of conduct, indicative of the government's restrictive measures against opposition ahead of the elections scheduled for October. The ruling CCM party has retained power since Tanzania's independence in 1961, leading to accusations against the current president, Samia Suluhu Hassan, of adopting repressive tactics similar to those of her predecessor, John Magufuli. Observers have noted that Lissu's previous assassination attempt in 2017 lends a heightened urgency to his current situation, as activists in the region have also reported abuses while expressing solidarity with him, emphasizing the tense atmosphere surrounding Tanzania's political landscape.