ARTICLE 19 is deeply concerned by the ongoing crackdown on political opposition in Tanzania. The recent actions by the government, namely the arrest of opposition leaders, represent a grave violation of the fundamental rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and political participation as enshrined in both the Constitution of Tanzania and international human rights law, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Tanzania is a party.
Although the government lifted a ban on political rallies in 2023, opposition figures continue to face legal challenges. In April 2025, the main opposition party, CHADEMA, was disqualified from running in the upcoming 2025 general elections for not signing a required code of conduct, which the party deemed unconstitutional. The opposition party has consistently called for reforms to ensure a fair electoral process, arguing that the current system heavily favours the ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) using the key slogan ‘No reforms, no election’ for its campaign.
Crackdown on opposition ahead of general election
On 9 April, 2025, the CHADEMA leader Mr. Tundu Lissu was arrested after speaking at a rally in Mbinga, southern Tanzania, where he called for electoral reforms ahead of the October 2025 general elections. Authorities charged him with treason and publishing false information, accusing him of inciting rebellion through statements made in a social media video on 3 April, 2025. Lissu, the runner-up in the country’s 2020 presidential election, was charged over what prosecutors said was a speech calling on the public to rebel and disrupt the election. Thereafter, authorities moved Lissu to different prisons in the country without following due process nor formal communication to his family and lawyers.
On 24 April 2025, the court was scheduled to hear the case but Lissu was not arraigned in person in court. Lissu refused to participate in the session virtually as his legal advocate argued that refusal to bring Lissu physically to the court ‘infringes upon the right of the accused person’. Further, police in Tanzania detained two senior opposition figures as the men drove to the court hearing. The party Deputy Chairperson John Heche and Secretary General John Mnyika were detained as they headed to Kisutu Magistrate Court in Dar es Salaam.
On 19 May 2025, Lissu appeared in court for the first time since his arrest. He entered the courtroom defiantly, wearing a shirt emblazoned with his slogan as supporters outside the court chanted in solidarity, demanding electoral reforms. However, the court adjourned the trial until 2 June to allow for further investigations.
In a televised speech on 19 May, Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan warned foreign human rights activists against ‘invading and interfering in our affairs’, and asked the security services to block them from entering the country. In the days leading up to the trial, the government of Tanzania has denied Kenyan and Ugandan human rights activists, including former Justice Minister Martha Karua and former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, entry into Tanzania while attempting to attend Lissu’s trial. On 19 May, human rights activists Agather Atuhaire from Uganda and Boniface Mwangi from Kenya were reportedly detained at the Central Police Station in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in a dramatic escalation of tensions surrounding the trial of Tanzanian opposition figure Lissu.
‘The criminalisation of political speech, especially calls for electoral reform, is a direct threat to democratic governance. Mr. Lissu’s arrest following a public rally and his remarks calling for free and fair elections exemplify a broader pattern of repression targeting opposition voices and civic space in Tanzania. Moreover, the denial of entry to prominent regional human rights defenders from Kenya and Uganda who sought to observe Mr. Lissu’s trial raises alarming concerns about the government’s commitment to transparency and regional cooperation on human rights,’ said Mr. Mugambi Kiai, ARTICLE 19 East Africa regional director.
Internet freedom under threat
In 2017, Tanzania’s parliament passed the Electronic and Postal Communications (Online Content) Regulations, with additional amendments in 2020. The regulations give the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority overarching powers to police social media, including blogs and private accounts. These laws criminalise content considered indecent, obscene, hateful, or disruptive to public order. There is no public information available about how platforms are flagged, whether takedowns can be appealed, or if affected content creators were given notice.
Throughout 2024, Tanzania experienced extensive internet disruptions, including undersea cable failures and state-imposed restrictions. These disruptions affected over 14 million users and resulted in an estimated US$1.4 million in economic losses. The government has denied intentional shutdowns, attributing the issues to technical glitches from service providers.
In October 2024, the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) suspended the online publications of Mwananchi Communications Limited for 30 days. The suspension followed the publication of content deemed ‘prohibited’ and a threat to national unity. This action led to the temporary removal of major news outlets, including The Citizen and Mwananchi Digital, from online platforms.
In May 2025, the Tanzanian government announced the removal of over 80,000 websites, blogs, and social media accounts. This action was officially justified as a measure to protect children’s mental health by eliminating ‘unethical content’. However, critics argue that this move reflects a broader effort to tighten state control over digital spaces and suppress dissent.
On 20 May, Tanzania blocked access to X, following posts claiming that the president had died, angering the country’s leadership. The claims were alleged to have been posted from an account linked to the police that had been compromised. Then, on 21 May, Tanzanian authorities reported that they had blocked X after hackers targeted government websites, resulting in posts containing false information and pornographic content.
These developments underscore a concerning trend of increasing digital repression in Tanzania, raising serious questions about the protection of digital rights and freedoms in the country.
Tanzania stands at a critical juncture. The choices the government makes now will either affirm its commitment to democratic principles or deepen the erosion of political freedoms. The suppression of dissent is not a path to stability but it is a direct threat to the legitimacy and future of democratic institutions in the country.
ARTICLE 19 calls on the Government of Tanzania to:
- Immediately and unconditionally release Tundu Lissu and drop all politically-motivated charges against him.
- Uphold the rights to freedom of expression, assembly, and association in the lead up to the October 2025 general election.
- Ensure the independence of the judiciary and protection of due process in all legal proceedings involving opposition members and civil society actors.
- Allow international and regional human rights observers to monitor judicial proceedings and political developments without obstruction.
Political history of Tanzania
Since gaining independence in 1961, Tanzania’s response to opposition parties has gone through several phases, ranging from open pluralism to one-party rule and back to multi-party democracy, with varying degrees of tolerance toward dissent. The State of Tanganyika became independent under the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU). However, opposition parties such as the United Tanganyika Party (UTP) were marginalised. Tanganyika merged with Zanzibar to form Tanzania in 1964. In 1965, Tanzania became a de jure one-party state, with the Chama Cha Mapinduzi party ( CCM) the only legal party and all opposition parties banned, and political dissent silenced through arrests, surveillance, or state-controlled media.
After global pressure and internal advocacy, Tanzania reintroduced multiparty democracy in 1992. New opposition parties were legalised, including Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA), Civic United Front (CUF), and ACT-Wazalendo. However, from 2015 to 2021, under the late President John Magufuli, there was a decline in political freedoms. Opposition rallies were banned, media outlets were shut down or fined, key opposition leaders like Tundu Lissu were attacked, and opposition candidates were disqualified from the 2020 general elections. CCM has remained dominant, winning every presidential and parliamentary election since independence.