What changed

B100514/2025

European Parliament resolution on the post-election killings and deteriorating human rights situation in Tanzania, including the case of imprisoned opposition leader Tundu Lissu

European Parliament resolution on the post-election killings and the deteriorating human rights situation in Tanzania, including the case of imprisoned opposition leader Tundu Lissu

(2025/2990(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to itsRules previous150(5) resolutionsand on136(4) Tanzaniaof its Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to Rule 150 of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas Tanzania’s 29 October 2025 elections were sharply criticised by African regional election observation missions, including those of the African Union and the Southern African Development Community (SADC); whereas the EU was not invited to deploy an election observation mission;

whereas on 29 October 2025, Tanzania held elections which were widely boycotted after the two main opposition parties were disqualified from running; whereas on 9 April 2025, Tanzanian police arrested Tundu Lissu, chairperson of the main opposition party Chadema, and charged him with the capital offence of treason; whereas human rights organisations consider these charges fabricated and politically motivated;

B. whereas the elections were followed by widespread protests and a violent crackdown by security forces, involving unlawful and excessive use of force, resulting in deaths, injuries and mass arrests;

whereas on voting day, the Tanzanian security forces committed grave human rights violations law in policing post-election protesters and non-protesters, using unlawful, unnecessary and excessive force; whereas testimonies from victims and medical sources reveal security forces repeatedly resorted to the unlawful use of lethal force, firing live ammunition into gatherings of post-election protesters;

C. whereas Tanzanian authorities imposed curfews and a nationwide shutdown of the internet and media and communications infrastructure to block access to information;

whereas the Tanzanian authorities illegally declared a curfew and cut off electricity and internet access, obstructing the documentation and reporting of human rights violations, while the Tanzanian security forces carried out unlawful killings and enforced disappearances;

D. whereas opposition leaders Tundu Lissu and Luhaga Mpina were barred from running in the elections;

whereas human rights organisations have observed a sustained purge against key Chadema officials and government critics; whereas in October outspoken government critic Humphrey Polepole was abducted with whereabouts now unknown;

E. whereas Lissu was arrested on 9 April 2025 and charged with treason, a capital offence under Tanzanian law; whereas he remains in detention under life-threatening conditions;

Strongly condemns the unlawful killings and excessive force used by security forces during post-election protests; and urges the Tanzanian Authorities to uphold fundamental rights and freedoms ensure the integrity the electoral process;

F. whereas other opposition leaders and critics were arbitrarily arrested or targeted, in a sustained purge involving abductions and disappearances, including that of Humphrey Polepole, reported by human rights organisations;

Condemns furthermore the attacks against the main opposition politicians, journalists and human rights defenders in Tanzania and call for an end to any state-sponsored violence against them;

G. whereas Tanzania’s deteriorating human rights situation and shrinking civic space contradict the EU’s core values and the principles underpinning its external action;

Calls on the Tanzanian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Tundu Lissu, as well as provide clarity on the whereabouts of Humphrey Polepole and release him without delay;

H. whereas Tanzania’s Christian and Muslim leaders condemned the government’s use of violence;

Urges the Tanzanian authorities to release all individuals who have been arbitrarily detained solely for the peaceful exercise of their human rights; stresses that pending their release, detainees must be provided with regular, frequent access to family and lawyers of their choice;

1. Denounces the violence and excessive use of force by Tanzanian security forces following the October 2025 elections, resulting in thousands of deaths, injuries and reported mass graves; condemns the government’s denial of wrongdoing;

Urges Tanzania to establish a moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty and commuting all death sentences;

2. Urges the Tanzanian Government to immediately cease crackdowns and arbitrary arrests of opposition members, protesters, journalists and human rights defenders, to release all those arbitrarily detained, and to lift all internet and media restrictions;

Calls for independent and impartial investigations into the unlawful killings and excessive use of force during the post-election protests, as well as the disappearances of government critics and opposition supporters

3. Condemns the arbitrary and politically motivated detention of opposition leader Lissu; calls for his immediate and unconditional release; expresses deep concern about the horrendous conditions under which he is held; demands that he be granted immediate and full access to his family, lawyers and medical care;

Calls on the EU and its Member States to engage with the Tanzanian authorities at the highest level to address these urgent human rights concerns;

4. Calls for a prompt, thorough, independent and impartial investigation into all alleged killings, enforced disappearances, torture and other violations; insists this be undertaken by an external and credible mechanism, including an African-led international commission of inquiry to ensure accountability;

Requests that the EU delegation in Tanzania ensures trial observation in the case of Tundu Lissu and others arbitrarily detained;

5. Highlights Parliament’s demand to the Commission to halt direct support to the Tanzanian authorities; calls for EU assistance to prioritise civil society organisations, human rights defenders and journalists; calls on the Council to consider sanctions against those responsible for violations;

Calls on the EU to establish crucial longer-term support to Tanzanian human rights defenders and journalists and to facilitate human rights defenders’ relocation programs, offering safe refuge to those at risk and legal pathways for asylum.

6. Urges Tanzania to abolish the death penalty and commute all death sentences;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the VP/HR, the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, and the President and Parliament of Tanzania.

7. Considers the recent elections neither free nor fair;

8. Calls on Tanzania to engage in an inclusive political dialogue with opposition, civil society and victims’ representatives to address the crisis and enable new, credible and transparent elections;

9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Government and Parliament of Tanzania, the Council, the Commission, the VP/HR, the African Union, the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States, the SADC and the UN.