On the arrest and risk of execution of Tundu Lissu, Chair of Chadema, the main opposition party in Tanzania
B-10-2025-0260
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group · Rapporteur: Catarina Vieira, Nicolae Ştefănuță, Mounir Satouri, Maria Ohisalo, Mélissa Camara, Ville Niinistö
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A resolution on the arrest and risk of execution of Tundu Lissu, Chair of Chadema, the main opposition party in Tanzania. It calls for his immediate release and for an end to arbitrary arrests and attacks on opposition leaders ahead of the October 2025 elections.¶¶¶ It urges an independent investigation into disappearances and police abuse, expresses concern over human rights violations, and calls for a moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty.¶¶¶ It also calls on the EU and Member States to engage with Tanzanian authorities on these issues and to ensure trial observation in Lissu's case.¶
Key points
- Calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Tundu Lissu and urges the Tanzanian government to end all arbitrary arrests and attacks against opposition leaders and government critics ahead of the October 2025 general elections.¶
- Calls for a thorough, independent, and impartial investigation into recent disappearances of government critics and opposition supporters and allegations of police abuse, ensuring those responsible are brought to justice in fair trials without recourse to the death penalty.¶
- Expresses concern over human rights violations by law enforcement, including unlawful use of force in policing political assemblies; stresses freedom of assembly and expression; urges Tanzania to cease crackdowns on peaceful gatherings and repression of NGOs.¶
- Condemns attacks against journalists and human rights defenders and calls for an end to state-sponsored violence against them.
- Urges Tanzania to establish a moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty and commuting all death sentences.¶
- Calls on the EU and Member States to step up engagement with Tanzanian authorities on Lissu's case and other urgent human rights concerns, including in the context of further EU investments.¶
- Calls on EU and Member States' delegations to ensure trial observation in the case of Lissu and all others arbitrarily detained.
Who is affected
- Tundu Lissu, Chair of Chadema, the main opposition party in Tanzania, who is arrested and at risk of execution.¶¶
- Opposition leaders, government critics, journalists, human rights defenders, and civil society in Tanzania, who face arbitrary arrests and attacks.¶¶
- Tanzanian authorities, who are urged to release Lissu, investigate abuses, and establish a moratorium on executions.¶¶
- EU and Member States, who are called on to engage with Tanzanian authorities and ensure trial observation.¶