As Tanzania approaches its October 29, 2025 general elections, the country has witnessed an alarming escalation of state-sanctioned repression that threatens the very foundations of democratic governance and human rights. The weaponisation of state institutions, the exclusion of the main opposition party from electoral participation, and the targeting of human rights defenders, journalists, and civil society activists represent a comprehensive assault on democratic principles that demands urgent international attention and action. The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) calls for immediate and decisive measures to halt this dangerous trajectory toward authoritarian consolidation.
Paris, 6 October 2025. As Tanzania prepares for the commencement of hearings in Tundu Lissu’s treason trial on October 6, 2025, the proceedings stand as a critical test of the country’s judicial independence and commitment to human rights. The High Court’s dismissal of Lissu’s preliminary objections in September has cleared the path for a trial that many international observers view as fundamentally flawed and politically motivated.
Lissu, the chairperson of the main opposition party CHADEMA (Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo), has been in custody since April 2025, facing a single count of treason over remarks allegedly made during his "No Reforms, No Elections" campaign calling for electoral reforms. The charge carries the death penalty and is non-bailable, ensuring Lissu remains imprisoned throughout the proceedings. The court’s rejection of his request for live broadcast of the proceedings, citing the need to protect prosecution witnesses, further undermines transparency and raises serious fair trial concerns.
The denial of live coverage is particularly troubling as it prevents public scrutiny of a trial that has profound implications for Tanzania’s democratic trajectory. Human Rights Watch has documented how this trial represents the fifth postponement of proceedings, forming part of a broader pattern of judicial harassment designed to silence political opposition. The refusal to allow meaningful observation of the trial process contradicts fundamental principles of open justice and transparency that are essential components of fair trial rights under international law.
Shrinking Civic Space and Escalating Repression
The deterioration of civic space in Tanzania has accelerated dramatically in the lead-up to the October 2025 elections. The disqualification of CHADEMA from participating in the elections represents an unprecedented assault on political pluralism. The Independent National Electoral Commission’s decision to bar the party for refusing to sign an electoral code of conduct effectively eliminates meaningful electoral competition and transforms the upcoming polls into a predetermined exercise.
This systematic exclusion is compounded by a documented pattern of enforced disappearances, torture, and extrajudicial killings targeting opposition figures, human rights defenders, and journalists. UN human rights experts have recorded over 200 cases of enforced disappearance in Tanzania since 2019, with the practice escalating as a tool of electoral repression. The brutal treatment of Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan lawyer Agather Atuhaire, who were tortured and sexually assaulted while attempting to observe Lissu’s trial, exemplifies the extreme measures employed by Tanzanian authorities to silence critics.
The Legal and Human Rights Centre has documented approximately 100 cases of human rights violations between 2015 and 2025, with significant spikes in 2022 and 2024. The Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition recorded 48 attacks on human rights defenders and activists in 2024 alone. These statistics reflect a systematic campaign to dismantle civil society and create a climate of fear that undermines democratic participation.
Digital rights have come under particular assault, with the government restricting access to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) and imposing sweeping surveillance measures. The suspension of local platforms like Jamii Forums for allegedly publishing content that "disrespected" the President demonstrates the authorities’ intolerance of any form of criticism. These digital restrictions, combined with the arbitrary arrest of individuals under cybercrime laws, have created a chilling effect on online expression and political discourse.
Pre-Election Environment and Democratic Deficit
The conditions surrounding Tanzania’s October 2025 elections reveal a comprehensive assault on democratic norms that extends far beyond the exclusion of the main opposition party. The electoral environment is characterized by mass arrests of opposition supporters, restrictions on political gatherings, and the systematic intimidation of civil society actors.
Local elections held in November 2024 provided a preview of the tactics employed to ensure ruling party dominance, with Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) securing 99.01% of village seats amid widespread allegations of ballot stuffing and electoral manipulation. This overwhelming dominance reflects not popular support but systematic electoral fraud and the exclusion of meaningful opposition participation.
"Tanzania is at a crossroads. The coming elections must not be a space where fear and repression dictate outcomes. The international community cannot remain silent -accountability and democratic principles must prevail", said Alice Mogwe, FIDH President.
International Human Rights Obligations and Regional Implications
Tanzania’s systematic violation of human rights obligations extends beyond domestic concerns to threaten regional stability and democratic norms. The torture and sexual assault of human rights defenders from Kenya and Uganda demonstrates how the country’s authoritarian consolidation has transnational implications. These violations contravene Tanzania’s obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and customary international law.
The European Parliament has condemned the escalation of repression in Tanzania, denouncing arbitrary arrests and harassment of opposition politicians and human rights defenders. The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights has expressed deep concern about reports of human rights violations in the context of the 2025 elections. These international condemnations reflect growing recognition that Tanzania’s democratic regression threatens not only domestic stability but regional democratic norms.
Recommendations
Regarding Tundu Lissu’s trial and fair trial rights:
– Ensure that the trial of Tundu Lissu on October 6, 2025, meets international fair trial standards, including the presumption of innocence, adequate time and facilities for defense preparation, and access to legal counsel;
– Allow independent domestic and international observers full access to monitor all trial proceedings;
– Drop all charges against Tundu Lissu and other political prisoners whose prosecutions are based solely on the exercise of their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
Regarding civic space and fundamental freedoms:
– Immediately end the systematic campaign of enforced disappearances, torture, and extrajudicial killings targeting opposition figures, human rights defenders, and journalists;
– Conduct thorough, impartial, and transparent investigations into all cases of enforced disappearance and bring perpetrators to justice in accordance with international standards;
– Restore CHADEMA’s right to participate in the electoral process and lift all arbitrary restrictions on the party’s political activities;
– Restore full access to social media platforms and end arbitrary restrictions on digital communications.
Regarding electoral integrity:
– Invite credible international election observation missions, including from the European Union, African Union, and SADC, to monitor the October 2025 elections;
– Ensure equal access to media and campaigning opportunities for all political parties and candidates;
– Reform electoral laws and procedures to guarantee free, fair, and credible elections that reflect the will of the Tanzanian people;
– Establish an independent electoral commission free from government interference and political manipulation.
FIDH calls on the international community to:
– Impose targeted sanctions on Tanzanian officials responsible for human rights violations, including travel bans and asset freezes;
– Utilize all available diplomatic channels to pressure Tanzania to comply with its international human rights obligations;
– Support Tanzanian civil society organizations through international advocacy and protection mechanisms;
– Consider referring the situation in Tanzania to the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights for urgent intervention.
FIDH calls on regional bodies to:
– The African Union and SADC must deploy robust election observation missions and speak out forcefully against electoral manipulation;
– The East African Community should invoke its democratic governance provisions to address Tanzania’s violations of regional commitments to human rights and democratic principles;
– Regional human rights mechanisms must prioritize the situation in Tanzania and take concrete action to protect human rights defenders and journalists.
The trial of Tundu Lissu beginning 6 October 2025 represents more than the prosecution of a single opposition leader it embodies Tanzania’s choice between the rule of law and authoritarian consolidation. The international community must act decisively to prevent Tanzania’s retreat from democratic governance and ensure that the upcoming elections represent a genuine expression of the Tanzanian people’s will rather than a predetermined exercise in authoritarian legitimation.
