What changed

B100265/2025

B100264/2025

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

(2025/2690(RSP))

 having regard to its previous resolutions on Tanzania;

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

A. Whereaswhereas Tundu Lissu, Chair of the main opposition party Chadema and aCHADEMA prominentwas Tanzanianarrested oppositionon leader,9 hasApril been2025 subjectin toMbinga repeatedfollowing threats,a harassment,peaceful andrally persecutionadvocating byfor theelectoral Tanzanianreforms authoritiesas duea topart hisof politicalthe activitiesCHADEMA’s andnational outspoken“No criticismReforms, ofNo theElection” government;campaign;

B. Whereas Tundu Lissu narrowly survived an assassination attempt in 2017 and was forced into exile due to continued threats to his life, only to face renewed persecution upon his return to Tanzania;

B. whereas Tundu Lissu has been charged with treason, carrying a potential sentence of death penalty in Tanzania, and “publishing false information” online; whereas he has been denied regular access to his legal counsel and announced to enter a hunger strike in protest at his imprisonment;

C. Whereas reports indicate that Tundu Lissu was recently arrested under dubious charges and now faces a credible risk of torture, inhumane treatment, or extrajudicial execution while in custody;

C. whereas shortly after Lissu’s arrest, CHADEMAwas disqualified from October’s election due to the party’s refusal to sign an electoral code of conduct; whereas the human rights situation in Tanzania has significantly deteriorated in recent months;

D. Whereas the Tanzanian police prevented opposition from holding meetings and other political gatherings, subjecting participants and organisers to mass arrest, arbitrary detention and unlawful force and to journalists was denied their right to freedom of expression;

D. whereas there has been a documented pattern of political repression against opposition figures, including arbitrary arrests, harassment, intimidation, and torture as reported in Freedom in the World 2025 and the Human Right Watch, regarding the current circumstances;​

E. Whereas journalists and media in Tanzania have also been persecuted and their fundamental freedoms are constantly violated by the authorities;

1. Condemns the arrest and detention of Tundu Lissu and expresses grave concern over the charges against him, which carry the risk of capital punishment; calls upon the Government of Tanzania to immediately and unconditionally release him, ensuring his safety and his right to a fair trial and due process;

F. Whereas international human rights organizations have condemned the targeting of opposition figures in Tanzania especially during 2024 a year marked by the forced arrest and disappearance of four government critics, one of whom has been confirmed dead/killed;

2. Underlines the need for ensuring access for legal representatives to guarantee that the conditions of detention meet internationally recognised human rights standards; calls on the Tanzanian Government to allow visits from international observers from the United Nations and the European Union; access to court hearings should be open for media;

1. Strongly condemns the arrest and continued persecution of Tundu Lissu, Chair of the main opposition party Chadema, and expresses deep concern over serious risk to his life and well-being while in custody;

3. Urges the Tanzanian authorities to uphold the rule of law and to respect, protect and fulfil human rights, ensuring that opposition parties can operate freely and participate fully in the political process; urges the Tanzanian authorities to halt any acts of intimidation, arrest or harassment of opposition leaders and supporters, as well as journalists and human rights defenders;

2. Strongly condemns the fact that Tanzania still retains death penalty in law even if has not been actively used for the last 10 years;

4. Calls for a transparent and inclusive dialogue on electoral reform, involving a wide spectrum of interested parties, including all political parties, civil society groups individual citizens, academics, and other stakeholders;

3. Calls on the Tanzanian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Tundu Lissu and to ensure his safety, fair treatment, right to due process and full access to medical care and legal representation, in accordance with Tanzania’s international human rights obligations;

5. Calls on the European External Action Service and Member States to monitor the situation closely and to consider appropriate measures to address the human rights violations in Tanzania;​

4. Urges the Government of Tanzania to uphold the principles of democracy, the rule of law, and political pluralism, and to refrain from any actions that may intimidate, silence, or endanger opposition figures and civil society actors;

6. Demands that an independent authority is set-up to investigate allegations of police abuse and other misconduct to ensure that those responsible are to be brought to justice in fair trials without recourse to the death penalty;

5. Reiterates the need for the EU to ensure that its development cooperation with Tanzania is consistent with the promotion of human rights and democratic governance, keeping also in mind Russia’s and China’s growing influence and role in the region;

7. Underlines that any investments under the Global Gateway initiative should be explicitly tied to progress in the areas of rule of law, freedom of expression, and fair trial standards;

6.8. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the TanzanianGovernment Government,and Parliament of Tanzania, the Council,African Union, the Commission,African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the African Union, and the East African Community.Policy.​