resolution motion, 24 November 2025
On the post-election killings and the deteriorating human rights situation in Tanzania, including the case of imprisoned opposition leader Tundu Lissu
Motion B-10-2025-0515 · (2025/2990(RSP))
on behalf of the S&D Group · Rapporteur: Yannis Maniatis, Francisco Assis, Hannes Heide, Udo Bullmann, Daniel Attard
AI:In short
The resolution condemns post-election violence and human rights abuses in Tanzania, urges the release of detained opposition figures, and calls for accountability and EU action.
Key points
- Urges immediate and unconditional release of all opposition figures, including Tundu Lissu, and other arbitrarily detained individuals, ensuring their safety.
- Strongly condemns violent crackdowns, killings, and police abuses against peaceful protesters, opposition members, and government critics.
- Urges ending violence and arbitrary arrests of opposition, human and LGBTQI+ rights defenders, journalists, and civil society; upholding rule of law and freedoms; no internet shutdowns.
- Urges prompt, impartial investigations into post-electoral killings, violence, and disappearances to ensure accountability.
- Calls on the European Commission to review assistance to Tanzania and prioritize support to NGOs, human rights defenders, and journalists.
- Urges EU and member states to engage critically with Tanzanian authorities, monitor trials, urge a moratorium on executions and abolition of death penalty, and inclusive dialogue.
Who is affected
- Tanzanian authorities: must release detainees, end violence, ensure investigations, and engage in dialogue.
- Opposition figures like Tundu Lissu and other arbitrarily detained individuals: to be released and protected.
- Human rights defenders, journalists, LGBTQI+ persons, civil society: to be free from violence and arbitrary arrest.
- European Commission: to review assistance and prioritize support to civil society.
- EU and member states: to engage with Tanzania and monitor trials.
Figures and deadlines
Written by AI from the full text · every figure comes from the text · ¶ opens the paragraph · 4 Sept 2026 · Report a problem
Full text
Text 20 paragraphs
B100515/2025
European Parliament resolution on the post-election killings and the deteriorating human rights situation in Tanzania, including the case of imprisoned opposition leader Tundu Lissu
(2025/2990(RSP))
The European Parliament,
having regard to Rules 150(5) of its Rules of Procedure,
whereas on 29 October President Samia Suluhu Hassan ran for her second term in the Tanzanian elections and was elected with an apparent 97.66 percent of the vote;
whereas the African Union Election Observation Mission strongly criticised the conduct of the presidential election;
whereas opposition figures were disqualified from taking part in the election, including Tundu Lissu, leader of Chadema, the main opposition party; whereas he was arrested on 9 April 2025 and later charged with treason, along with three offences of publication of false information under cybercrime laws; whereas he still remains in custody; whereas Luhaga Mpina from ACT Wazalendo opposition party, was also disqualified in September 2025;
whereas the post-electoral period has been marked by massive protests in many major cities;
whereas on the election day, authorities responded to the protests with lethal force, tear gas, and other weapons; whereas numerous sources reported multiple cases of abductions and extrajudicial killings of protesters and opposition figures and activists have been documented, as well as restrictions on freedom of movement and peaceful assembly;
whereas the Tanzanian authorities have resorted to a nationwide internet blockade for six days; whereas reports suggests that during the internet shutdown, the authorities committed grave human rights violations,
Urges the Tanzanian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all opposition figures arrested, including Chadema leader Tundu Lissu, and all other individuals who have been arbitrarily detained and to guarantee their safety and physical integrity;
Read the rest (8 paragraphs)
Strongly condemns violent crackdowns, killings and police abuses surrounding the recent elections in Tanzania, targeting peaceful protesters, opposition members and government critics;
Urges Tanzanian authorities to end any form of violence, arbitrary arrests of opposition members, human and LGBTQI+ rights defenders, journalists and civil society organisations, to uphold the rule of law, freedom of expression, press, media and association, and judicial independence, to respect the rights of political parties to organise, facilitate peaceful assembly, to refrain from any further internet shutdowns in violation of the right to information; including by ensuring unrestricted access for independent media;
Urges the Tanzanian authorities to ensure prompt and impartial investigations into the post-electoral killings and violence, the disappearances of government critics and opposition supporters reported missing; with a view to ensuring accountability for those responsible;
Calls on the European Commission to review assistance to Tanzania in light of the ongoing crackdown by national authorities, and prioritise support to non-governmental organisations, human rights defenders and journalists;
Urges the EU and its Member States to critically engage with the Tanzanian authorities at the highest level regarding the post-electoral human rights violations, to closely monitor the relevant trials; urges Tanzania to establish a moratorium on executions and take steps towards the abolition of the death penalty; and to engage in inclusive political dialogue with the opposition;
Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the
HR/VP, the Member States, the African Union, the UN, the Government and
Parliament of Tanzania.