Tanzania: Opposition leader Tundu Lissu jailed for four years

While the verdict removed the threat of a death sentence, judges convicted Lissu of an offense that was not among the charges he faced. The Chadema leader was arrested in April 2025 over a speech in which prosecutors said he told supporters the opposition would "block the election" and "mobilize rebellion."

Court Decision

Judges found that Lissu's statements about blocking the election were intended to disrupt the vote and encourage violence. "We are satisfied that through his statements, the accused intended to disrupt elections and instigate violence," the judge said.

Political Fallout

Lissu disputed his conviction, calling it political persecution. "All this was political persecution. Excuses were created to imprison me," he told the court. His arrest, along with alleged abductions of government critics and Chadema's exclusion from the October 2025 election, helped drive protests across the country.

Hundreds died as police opened fire on protesters in several cities. A government commission reported at least 518 people killed, blaming protesters for the violence. The government denied allegations of excessive force by security personnel.

International Response

British and EU lawmakers described the case as politically motivated and called for Lissu's immediate release. "The use of capital punishment against a political opponent risks turning the justice system into an instrument of political repression," they wrote to President Hassan.

Lissu, 58, has been repeatedly arrested for opposing the government. In 2017, he survived an assassination attempt in which he was shot 16 times, which he believes was politically motivated. He has already spent 19 months in jail.