What changed

B100262/2025

B100263/2025

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the arrest and risk of execution of Tundu Lissu, Chair of Chadema,CHADEMA, theTanzania’s main opposition party in Tanzania

(2025/2690(RSP))

– having regard to Rules 150(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to Article 21 of the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania

A. whereas opposition leader Tundu Lissu, Chair of CHADEMA, was arrested on 9 April 2025 after an opposition rally and charged on 10 April with treason – a crime punishable by death under Tanzanian law; whereas the charges allege he urged the public to rebel and disrupt the upcoming elections;

– having regard to Article 13 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights

B. whereas Tundu Lissu has been held without bail since 10 April and was initially detained incommunicado with no access to his lawyers or family, in breach of his right to a fair trial;

A. whereas on 9 April 2025, Tundu Lissu, leader of Tanzania’s main opposition Party for Democracy and Progress (Chadema) was arrested; whereas on 10 April 2025, police charged him with the offence of treason;

C. whereas two senior CHADEMA officials were arrested on 24 April in another example of the crackdown on the opposition; whereas security forces have violently dispersed peaceful rallies of Lissu’s supporters;whereas vocal regime critic Father Charles Kitima was brutally attacked on 30 April;

B.D. whereas onTanzania’s 12National AprilElectoral 2025,Commission disqualified CHADEMA from the Independent2025 Nationalelections Electionsafter Commissionthe (INEC)party barredrefused Chademato fromsign contestingan election code of conduct; whereas CHADEMA boycotted the Octobersigning 2025to elections;demand electoral reforms, including an independent electoral commission;

C. whereas according to different reports, four government critics forcibly disappeared and one was unlawfully killed in 2024;

E. whereas these actions against Tundu Lissu and CHADEMA reflect a wider pattern of repression in Tanzania; whereas opposition figures have faced repeated arrests and violence, and there have been alarming reports of abductions and extrajudicial killings of government critics that remain unresolved, drawing international condemnation;

D. whereas in a 2022 survey, published by Afrobarometer in October 2023, a majority of Tanzanians report feeling free to say what they think and to join political organisations of their choice; whereas 76 % of Tanzanians expressed support for the government’s right to limit news or opinions that criticise or insult the president and 71 % approved restrictions of sharing of information that the government disapproves of;

1. Strongly condemns the arrest of Tundu Lissu and the charges against him which appear to be politically motivated; calls for his immediate release and dismissal of charges;

E. whereas Tanzania 2025 population is estimated at 70,545,865 people at mid-year and is expected to grow to roughly 130 million people by 2050; whereas in 2025, 25.2 million Tanzanians live on a maximum of 1.90 US dollar per day;

2. Expresses deep concern that Lissu has been charged with an offence carrying the death penalty while being denied due process; urges the Tanzanian authorities to uphold his right to a fair trial and to ensure that no death sentence is imposed;

F. whereas the EU supports Tanzania’s development through the Global Europe Multi-annual Indicative Programme 2021-2027 with EUR 726 million; whereas EU Member States bilateral support to Tanzania was approximately EUR 1.2 billion for 2021-2024;

3. Urges the Tanzanian government to cease all persecution of opposition members and supporters; demands the immediate release of all other political prisoners and an end to the use of security forces and laws to stifle peaceful dissent; calls for independent investigations into alleged abductions and killings;

1. Is concerned about the arrest of Tundu Lissu alongside the disqualification of the Chadema party from the 2025 elections;

4. Calls on the Tanzanian authorities to reinstate CHADEMA’s full participation in the 2025 elections and to engage in dialogue with the opposition; insists on urgent electoral reforms to guarantee free and fair elections, in line with international democratic standards;

2. Calls on the Tanzanian authorities to ensure that those responsible for politically motivated disappearances and murders are brought to justice;

5. Calls on the European Union and its Member States to closely monitor the situation and raise these concerns with the Tanzanian authorities; urges them to consider appropriate measures if the human rights situation continues to deteriorate;

3. Fully respects the collective preferences of the Tanzanian people and the internal electoral process of Tanzania, which must reflect the will of its people;

6. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the President and Government of the United Republic of Tanzania, the Speaker of the National Assembly of Tanzania, the African Union, the East African Community, the European Commission, the Council of the European Union, and the VicePresident of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

4. Encourages all political parties to contest the upcoming elections; encourages the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party to hold talks with all of the opposition parties over their demands; is of the opinion that the release of Tundu Lissu would give a boost to these talks;

5. Calls on the African Union to engage with the Tanzanian government to find a solution;

6. Notes that EU development aid has only had a very limited effect as exemplified by Tanzania’s deepening health crisis, fuelled by the persisting brain drain of health care professionals;

7. Is worried that the persisting high poverty levels, combined with the very high population growth, will lead to mass emigration;

8. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice- President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the European External Action Service, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, and the President, government and parliament of Tanzania.