resolution motion, 24 November 2025
On post-election killings and deteriorating human rights situation in Tanzania, including the case of imprisoned opposition leader Tundu Lissu
Motion B-10-2025-0534 · (2025/2990(RSP))
on behalf of the PPE Group · Rapporteur: Sebastião Bugalho, Reinhold Lopatka, David McAllister, Andrzej Halicki, Michael Gahler, Željana Zovko, Isabel Wiseler-Lima, Tomas Tobé, Antonio López-Istúriz White, Andrey Kovatchev, Danuše Nerudová, Ingeborg Ter Laak, Tomáš Zdechovský, Wouter Beke, Inese Vaidere, Loránt Vincze, Liudas Mažylis, Jessica Polfjärd, Michał Wawrykiewicz
AI:In short
This resolution condemns post-election killings and human rights abuses in Tanzania, demanding the release of detained opposition leader Tundu Lissu and other political prisoners, and calling for an independent international inquiry and new elections. It urges Tanzania to end enforced disappearances, torture, and arbitrary detention, and calls on the EU to suspend aid and consider sanctions against officials.
Key points
- Demands the immediate and unconditional release of all detained political opponents, demonstrators, journalists, and civil society activists.
- Urges the Tanzanian government to end enforced disappearances, torture, and arbitrary arrest and detention, and to respect its constitutional and international obligations.
- Calls for an independent, international commission of inquiry into deaths, injuries, and incarcerations, which should be African-led, with EU support if desired.
- Calls for new, credible, transparent elections with full participation of all parties and candidates, observed by international missions.
- Condemns the detention of Tundu Lissu, demands his release, and expresses concern about his conditions, including solitary confinement and lack of due process.
- Reiterates the call to suspend the annual action plan for Tanzania and welcomes the Commission's decision to put its ratification on hold.
- Calls on the Council to consider targeted restrictive measures under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime against Tanzanian officials complicit in abuses.
Who is affected
- Tanzanian authorities and security forces: must release detainees, end abuses, and allow new elections.
- Detained political opponents, demonstrators, journalists, and activists: would be released.
- Tanzanian officials complicit in abuses: could face EU sanctions.
- EU Commission: should suspend the annual action plan for Tanzania.
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 19 paragraphs
B100534/2025
European Parliament resolution on post-election killings and deteriorating human rights situation in Tanzania, including the case of imprisoned opposition leader Tundu Lissu
(2025/2990(RSP))
The European Parliament,
having regard to Rule 150(5) of its Rules of Procedure,
whereas Presidential and Parliamentary elections in Tanzania took place on 29 October 2025, with President Hassan being declared the winner with an apparent 98% of the vote after the main opposition candidates were either arrested, indicted or barred from standing;
whereas the African Union’s and the Southern African Development Community’s (SADC) election observation missions noted irregularities and criticised the elections; whereas contrary to 2015, an EU Election Observation Mission was not invited;
whereas the elections were immediately followed by widespread civic protests, to which the security forces responded with massive, disproportionate, and lethal force, resulting in the death of several hundred, primarily young, people;
whereas the government also responded to the protests with a nationwide internet and communication blackout and the imposition of a curfew, severely restricting the free flow of information and preventing the documentation of human rights violations;
whereas Tanzania’s Catholic Bishops have condemned Tanzanian authorities for using excessive force and called for an independent international investigation;
whereas opposition leader Tundu Lissu remains imprisoned under life threating conditions since April 2025, facing among others charges of treason, which carry the possibility of a death sentence; whereas the judicial proceedings against him and other political opponents appear to be politically motivated;
Demands the immediate and unconditional release of all detained political opponents, demonstrators, journalists, and civil society activists;
Read the rest (7 paragraphs)
Urges the government of Tanzania to immediately end the practice of enforced disappearances, torture and arbitrary arrest and detention and to respect its constitutional and international obligations;
Calls for the establishment of an independent, international commission of inquiry to investigate all reported deaths, injuries, and incarcerations; underlines that such an inquiry should be African-led and offers the EU’s support if desired;
Calls for the Tanzanian authorities to pave the way for new, credible, and transparent elections, guaranteeing the full participation of all parties and candidates, and observed by international missions;
Condemns the arbitrary and baseless detention of Tundu Lissu, and calls for his immediate and unconditional release; expresses deep concern about the horrendous conditions under which he is held, including de-facto solitary confinement, constant surveillance, restrictive dietary provisions, and the total lack of due process given that there is no information whatsoever over when his trials will proceed; points to the fact that all alleged evidence presented so far has proven unsubstantial in court;
Reiterates its call for the Commission to suspend the annual action plan for Tanzania, welcomes Commissioner Sikela’s announced decision to put its ratification on hold;
Stresses the need for the Council to consider targeted restrictive measures under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime against Tanzanian officials complicit in human rights abuses; stresses that there can be no impunity for grave crimes;
Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the VP/HR, the Tanzanian authorities and parliament, the African Union, SADC, and the Secretary-General of the United Nations.