What changed

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

B100262/2025

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 Rules 150(5) and 136(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas Tundu Lissu, leader of Chadema, Tanzania’s main opposition party, was arrested on 9 April 2025 in Mbinga, following a peaceful rally advocating electoral reforms;

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

B. whereas Lissu narrowly survived an assassination attempt in 2017 and was forced into exile, only to face renewed persecution upon his return to Tanzania;

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

C. whereas on 10 April 2025, Lissu was charged with treason, along with three offences of publication of false information under cybercrime laws; whereas treason in Tanzania carries a potential death sentence; whereas the EU is unequivocally opposed to the death penalty under all circumstances;

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;

D. whereas shortly after Lissu’s arrest, Chadema was disqualified from the October 2025 presidential and parliamentary elections, based on the party’s refusal to sign an electoral code of conduct;

B. whereas on 12 April 2025, the Independent National Elections Commission (INEC) barred Chadema from contesting the October 2025 elections;

E. whereas ahead of the November 2024 local elections, Tanzania’s Government impeded opposition meetings, arbitrarily arrested hundreds of opposition supporters, imposed restrictions on social media access and banned independent media; whereas thousands of opposition candidates were disqualified from participating; whereas at least four government critics were forcibly disappeared and one Chadema official was abducted and brutally killed;

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

F. whereas Tanzania’s ranking in Freedom House’s freedom report was downgraded in 2025 to ‘not free’;

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. Condemns the arrest of Lissu and expresses grave concern over the charges against him, which appear to be politically motivated and carry the risk of capital punishment; calls on the Tanzanian Government to immediately and unconditionally release him, ensuring his safety and his right to a fair trial and legal representation;

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. Urges the Tanzanian authorities to end the escalating crackdown, arbitrary arrests, violence, attacks and harassment against opposition members, human rights defenders, indigenous peoples, LGBTIQ+ activists, journalists and civil society organisations, and to independently investigate police abuses and enforced disappearances, to uphold the rule of law, freedom of expression, press, media and association, and judicial independence, to bring Tanzania’s cybercrime and media laws in line with international human rights law, to respect the rights of political parties and to ensure free and fair elections;

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. Calls on the Tanzanian authorities to reinstate Chadema’s full participation in the October 2025 elections and to engage with all political parties in transparent and inclusive dialogue on electoral reform, in consultation with civil society groups and other stakeholders;

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

4. Calls for the EU and its Member States to critically engage with the Tanzanian authorities regarding Lissu’s case and to closely monitor the trial; urges them to consider appropriate measures if the human rights situation continues to deteriorate; urges Tanzania to abolish the death penalty and commute all death sentences;

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

5. Reiterates the need for the EU to ensure that its development cooperation with Tanzania, including the Global Gateway initiative, is consistent with the promotion of human rights, freedom of expression and fair trial standards;

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 Government and Parliament of Tanzania, the African Union and the VP/HR.​

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.