A Tanzanian court has sentenced opposition leader Tundu Lissu to four years in prison for inciting unrest, though he was cleared of treason charges, which could have led to a death sentence. The ruling comes in the wake of a disputed presidential election and a violent crackdown on demonstrators, raising significant concerns about political freedom in the country.
The verdict was delivered by a three-judge panel at the High Court in Dar es Salaam, where Lissu, leader of the main opposition party Chadema, was accused of making statements that aimed to disrupt the electoral process. A judge remarked on Lissu’s intent to incite violence through his comments.
Lissu has remained in custody since April 2025 and denies any wrongdoing, arguing his advocacy for electoral reforms was lawful and the charges against him politically motivated.
His arrest occurred just six months before the October 2025 elections, shortly after he began campaigning for electoral changes under the slogan “No Reforms, No Election”. Prosecutors claimed his statements threatened the government, constituting treason.
Lissu, a lawyer who defended himself during the trial, insisted his remarks were taken out of context and asserted he had committed no crime. In his closing arguments, he appealed to the judges to uphold their oaths impartially.
The trial elicited condemnation from British and EU lawmakers, who characterised it as politically motivated and called for Lissu’s release. They warned that the potential for capital punishment against a political opponent risks weaponising the justice system.
Ahead of the verdict, security was heightened in Dar es Salaam as Lissu’s supporters congregated outside the courthouse. Police cautioned against any potential unrest, attributing threats of a coup to those gathering in the city.
Lissu’s arrest, together with the disqualification of other opposition members and alleged abductions of government critics, fueled protests during last year’s presidential elections. President Samia Suluhu Hassan won with 98% of the vote, a result dismissed as a “mockery” of democracy by opposition parties.
A government report stated that at least 518 people died amid the unrest, attributing the violence to protesters, while opposition groups claim that the authorities were responsible for thousands of deaths. The government has dismissed allegations of excessive force, asserting that the election was fair and blaming foreign interference for the disturbances.
