Reacting to Friday’s conviction of Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu and his sentence of four years’ imprisonment for incitement, after he was acquitted of treason, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, Tigere Chagutah, said:
“Tundu Lissu should never have been arrested, let alone prosecuted and convicted. Today’s verdict and four-year prison sentence are the culmination of a deeply flawed process that was unjust from the moment of his arrest. He has already spent 577 days in arbitrary detention solely for the peaceful exercise of his human rights.
Tundu Lissu should never have been arrested, let alone prosecuted and convicted. Today’s verdict and four-year prison sentence are the culmination of a deeply flawed process that was unjust from the moment of his arrest.
Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa
“The proceedings were marred by serious violations of his right to a fair trial. He was denied confidential access to his lawyers, effectively forcing him to represent himself. Live broadcasts of the proceedings were disconnected, while at least two international trial observers were arbitrarily arrested, allegedly tortured and deported. He was also held in inhumane detention conditions, in a death row cell, with limited access to religious services. The conviction and sentence cannot be considered the outcome of a fair trial.
The Tanzanian authorities must quash Tundu Lissu’s conviction and sentence, immediately and unconditionally release him, and end the misuse of treason and other laws to silence government critics.
Tigere Chagutah
“The Tanzanian authorities must quash Tundu Lissu’s conviction and sentence, immediately and unconditionally release him, and end the misuse of treason and other laws to silence government critics.
“Amnesty International calls on the authorities to end their crackdown on critics and respect and uphold the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.”
Background
Tundu Lissu was arrested on 9 April 2025 after holding a political rally in Mbinga town, southwest Tanzania. During his arrest, police reportedly used excessive force, including by firing teargas and shooting in the air to disperse his supporters. He was subsequently transferred to Dar es Salaam, more than 1,000km away, during the night.
On 10 April 2025, police charged him with the non-bailable offence of treason, in connection with social media posts he made on 3 April 2025 calling on Tanzanians to boycott the October 2025 elections over concerns about possible electoral malpractice.
Amnesty International has documented the repeated misuse of counterterrorism and other security-related laws to target opposition supporters and government critics in Tanzania.