Tanzania opposition leader says treason trial is 'political' as defence starts By AFP August 21, 2026 11:15 (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter Tanzania's main opposition leader Tundu Lissu (2nd L) gestures as …
… opposition leader has case to answer in treason trial By AFP August 21, 2026 02:06 (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter Tanzanian opposition leader and former presidential candidate of CHADEMA party Tundu Lissu …
Audio By VocalizeA Tanzanian court on Friday ruled that the treason trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu will go ahead after finding that he has a case to answer. …
… Audio By Vocalize Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu's treason trial resumed Monday, five months after it was paused over procedural matters, his party said. …
Audio By VocalizeTanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu's treason trial resumed Monday, five months after it was paused over procedural matters, his party said. …
… Tanzania went further still: opposition leader Tundu Lissu jailed on treason charges, his party barred from the ballot entirely, and President Samia Suluhu Hassan "winning" nearly 98 per cent unopposed. …
… Opposition leader Tundu Lissu jailed on treason charges, his party barred from the ballot entirely, and President Samia Suluhu Hassan "winning" nearly 98 per cent unopposed. …
Tundu Lissu, head of Tanzania's opposition Chadema party, opened his defence on Friday in a treason trial he calls "political," after being charged in April 2025 with inciting public boycotts of last year's elections—a charge carrying potential death penalty.
Tundu Lissu, head of Tanzania's opposition Chadema party, opened his defence on Friday in a treason trial he calls "political," after being charged in April 2025 with inciting public boycotts of last year's elections—a charge carrying potential death penalty.
A Tanzanian court ruled on Friday that the treason trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu will proceed after finding he has a case to answer. Lissu, head of the opposition Chadema party, was detained in April 2025 and charged with treason for allegedly inciting the public to boycott last year's elections.
A Tanzanian court ruled Friday that opposition Chadema party leader Tundu Lissu has a case to answer in his treason trial after prosecutors presented evidence and 17 witnesses testified against him. Lissu, detained in April 2025 and charged with treason for allegedly inciting public boycotts of last year's elections, is representing himself and has asked the court to summon high-ranking government officials including President Samia Suluhu Hassan as defence witnesses.
Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu's treason trial resumed Monday after a five-month pause over procedural matters. The trial follows international criticism of Tanzania's handling of protests around last year's national elections, in which the opposition and rights activists say thousands were killed.
Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu's treason trial resumed Monday after a five-month pause over procedural matters; Lissu was detained in April 2025 and charged with treason, which carries a potential death penalty, while his party Chadema claims the case is being used to suppress legitimate political opposition.
An opinion piece warns that Kenya's Ol Kalou by-election—marked by distribution of gas cylinders, mattresses, and other goods timed suspiciously before voting—follows a pattern of electoral misconduct seen across East and Southern Africa. The piece argues that such practices represent slow-motion failures in election conduct that have become recognizable across the region.
An opinion piece compares the Ol Kalou by-election (called after MP David Njuguna Kiaraho's death in March 2026) to election irregularities across East Africa—gas cylinders, mattresses, and other incentives distributed to voters in the run-up to polling day—arguing that such misconduct follows a predictable regional pattern.
Dozens of Ugandans and Tanzanians are hiding in neighbouring Kenya after recent elections triggered mass arrests, kidnappings, and murders in their countries. Refugees report knowing between 20 and 40 others who have fled to Kenya in recent months, though many live in fear of cross-border abduction.
Tanzania has reinstated a ban on political rallies "until further notice," citing fears that mass gatherings could trigger uncontrollable protests. The move follows violent post-election clashes in 2025 and comes after President Samia Hassan had lifted the previous rally ban in 2023, which had been imposed in 2016 under her predecessor John Magufuli.
Tanzania has reimposed a ban on political rallies "until further notice," citing concerns that mass gatherings could trigger uncontrollable protests. The government action follows violent post-election unrest in 2025, and activists had scheduled nationwide protests against political repression for 7 July 2026.
Senior Counsel Martha Karua was detained at Entebbe International Airport while travelling to defend opposition figures in Uganda's courts. The Standard editorial argues the incident and similar treatment of Kenyan lawyers in neighbouring EAC states undermine the bloc's stated principles, noting Kenya opens its courts to lawyers from other EAC members while its own advocates face restrictions.
Kenyan lawyer and political leader Martha Karua was denied entry to Uganda and forced to return to Nairobi after interrogation and phone confiscation, marking her second deportation in a year—she was similarly expelled from Tanzania in May 2025 while attempting to observe an opposition trial. Uganda's Chief of Defence Forces claimed responsibility for declaring her persona non grata as she travelled to support a case involving a Ugandan opposition figure.
Uganda's Chief of Defence Forces Muhoozi Kainerugaba said he personally ordered the deportation of Kenya's Senior Counsel and Peoples Liberation Party leader Martha Karua from Uganda on Monday, and that she would no longer be allowed entry into the country. Karua had travelled to Uganda as part of a delegation attending a bail hearing for advocate Erias Lukwago.
Uganda's Chief of Defence Forces Muhoozi Kainerugaba says he personally decided to deport Kenya's Senior Counsel and Peoples Liberation Party leader Martha Karua from the country, and that she will no longer be allowed entry into Uganda.
Uganda's Chief of Defence Force Muhoozi Kainerugaba posted on X that he ordered the deportation of Kenyan Senior Counsel Martha Karua from Uganda on Monday, saying she will no longer be allowed entry. Karua had travelled to Uganda to help defend detained opposition leader Kizza Besigye but was stopped by immigration officials citing security reasons.
People's Liberation Party leader Martha Karua was deported from Uganda after immigration officials cited "security reasons," despite initial clearance at Entebbe International Airport. Karua, who had travelled to attend bail proceedings for jailed Ugandan lawyer Erias Lukwago and serves as lead counsel in a treason case against opposition leader Kizza Besigye, said she was declared persona non grata and placed on a return flight to Nairobi.
An opinion piece argues that Kenya should have been the first to respond when activist Boniface Mwangi alleged detention, torture, and sexual assault in Tanzania in 2025, rather than waiting for the US State Department to act. The author contends that a government valuing its citizens must protect their safety and dignity regardless of where they are.
The United States has imposed sanctions on Tanzanian Police Force Senior Assistant Commissioner Faustine Jackson Mafwele over alleged human rights violations involving the detention and torture of Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire.
The United States has sanctioned Tanzanian Police Force Senior Assistant Commissioner Faustine Jackson Mafwele under Section 7031(c) for involvement in the detention, torture and sexual assault of Uganda's Agather Atuhaire and Kenya's Boniface Mwangi in May 2025, barring him from entering the United States.
Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan is facing criticism from human rights activists, including Kenya Human Rights Commission, over remarks regarding management of youth-led protests in the region. Rights defenders say her statements promote repression across East Africa and undermine democratic freedoms.
After the death of former president John Pombe Magufuli, deputy president Samia Suluhu Hassan ascended to Tanzania's presidency. Initially celebrated as a change from Magufuli's heavy-handed rule, Suluhu has since emerged as a hardline leader in her own right.
Former Chief Justice David Maraga has criticized President William Ruto and Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu for discussing plans to jointly discipline Gen Z protesters, saying their "axis of tyranny" threatens to return East Africa to autocracy. Suluhu called for Ruto to work with her to address Gen Z unrest in both countries during Ruto's state visit to Tanzania.
The Orange Democratic Movement's Linda Mwananchi movement has opposed President William Ruto's planned visit and address to Tanzania's Parliament, arguing it risks undermining democratic values and risks legitimizing actions perceived to violate democratic norms. The group criticized Tanzania's general elections, citing arrests and intimidation of opposition leaders, and referenced African Union Election Observer findings that the elections fell short of democratic standards.