African, Global Leaders Demand Immediate Release Of Tanzanian Opposition Leader Tundu Lissu
Lissu, a fierce critic of the Tanzanian government and an outspoken advocate for democratic reforms, was arrested on April 9, 2025.
A powerful coalition of African opposition leaders, activists, and international human rights figures has issued a passionate call for the immediate and unconditional release of Tundu Lissu, Chairman of Tanzania’s main opposition party, CHADEMA.
In a joint statement signed by dozens of prominent figures from across Africa and beyond, the signatories condemned Lissu’s continued detention, calling the charges against him politically motivated and an alarming threat to democracy in Tanzania.
Lissu, a fierce critic of the Tanzanian government and an outspoken advocate for democratic reforms, was arrested on April 9, 2025.
He has been held in custody since April 10 on charges of treason and publishing false information—offenses that could carry the death penalty under Tanzanian law.
“These accusations not only threaten his life under the death penalty provision but also represent a dangerous weaponization of the law to silence legitimate dissent,” the statement read.
Signatories to the statement include political heavyweights such as Ian Khama, former President of Botswana; Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (Bobi Wine), President of Uganda’s National Unity Platform; Adalberto Costa Junior, President of Angola’s UNITA; and Leopoldo Lopez of Venezuela’s World Liberty Congress.
Also among the supporters are lawmakers and activists from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sudan, Lesotho, the United States, the United Kingdom, and other nations.
The group accused the Tanzanian authorities of violating both the country’s constitution and international human rights commitments, including the United Nations Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under Any Form of Detention and the Nelson Mandela Rules.
“This moment calls for moral clarity and courageous action,” the statement continued, urging President Samia Hassan Suluhu’s government to release Lissu immediately and ensure that all legal proceedings adhere to national and international human rights standards.
“The continued detention of Tundu Lissu sends a troubling message about the state of democracy and justice in Tanzania. As the world watches, let this be a moment to reaffirm the values of freedom, rule of law, and the right to peaceful political opposition,” the signatories declared.
The statement also called on regional bodies—including the African Union, the Southern African Development Community, and the East African Community—as well as democratic governments worldwide, to pressure Tanzania’s government to respect political freedoms.
“Justice for Tundu Lissu is justice for all who believe in democracy. Let us not be silent when voices for freedom are silenced,” it concluded.
The effort was coordinated through the Platform for African Democrats (PAD), a forum founded in 2022 to promote democratic competitiveness and good electoral practices across the continent.
Tundu Lissu, a lawyer and seasoned politician, survived an assassination attempt in 2017 and has remained a symbol of opposition resistance in Tanzania. His latest arrest has fueled widespread concerns about the suppression of dissent and political freedoms under President Samia’s administration, despite early hopes for reform.