Adopted text, 27 November 2025

Post-election killings and the deteriorating human rights situation in Tanzania, including the case of imprisoned opposition leader Tundu Lissu

Document TA-10-2025-0302 · P10_TA(2025)0302 · PE778.987

Adopted in plenary on Thursday, 27 November 2025 · Adopted 539 for, 0 against, 27 abstained · See the decision →
Where the law stands · dossier 2025/2990 →

AI:In short

Parliament's resolution denounces violence and excessive force by Tanzanian security forces after the October 2025 elections, condemns the detention of opposition leader Tundu Lissu, and calls for investigations, sanctions, and new elections.

Key points

Denounces violence and excessive force by Tanzanian security forces after the October 2025 elections, resulting in deaths, injuries and reported mass graves; condemns the government's denial of wrongdoing.
Urges the Tanzanian Government to cease crackdowns and arbitrary arrests of opposition members, protesters, journalists and human rights defenders, release all arbitrarily detained, and lift internet and media restrictions.
Condemns the arbitrary and politically motivated detention of opposition leader Lissu; calls for his immediate and unconditional release; demands full access to family, lawyers and medical care.
Calls for a prompt, thorough, independent and impartial investigation into all alleged killings, enforced disappearances, torture and other violations, preferably by an external and credible mechanism, including an African-led international commission of inquiry.
Demands the Commission halt direct support to Tanzanian authorities; calls for EU assistance to prioritise civil society organisations, human rights defenders and journalists; calls on the Council to consider sanctions.
Urges Tanzania to abolish the death penalty and commute all death sentences.
Considers the recent elections neither free nor fair.
Calls on Tanzania to engage in inclusive political dialogue with opposition, civil society and victims' representatives to address the crisis and enable new, credible and transparent elections.

Who is affected

Tanzanian Government and security forces: must cease crackdowns, release detainees, lift restrictions, and face possible sanctions.
Opposition leader Tundu Lissu: should be released unconditionally and granted access to family, lawyers and medical care.
EU institutions: Commission to halt direct support, Council to consider sanctions, assistance to prioritise civil society.

Figures and deadlines

29 October 2025 elections
9 April 2025 arrest of Lissu

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

European Parliament resolution of 27 November 2025 on the 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 Rules 150(5) and 136(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.whereas Tanzania’s 29 October 2025 elections were sharply criticised by African regional election observation missions, including those of the African Union and the Southern African Development Community (SADC); whereas the EU was not invited to deploy an election observation mission;

B.whereas the elections were followed by widespread protests and a violent crackdown by security forces, involving unlawful and excessive use of force, resulting in deaths, injuries and mass arrests;

C.whereas Tanzanian authorities imposed curfews and a nationwide shutdown of the internet and media and communications infrastructure to block access to information;

D.whereas opposition leaders Tundu Lissu and Luhaga Mpina were barred from running in the elections;

E.whereas Lissu was arrested on 9 April 2025 and charged with treason, a capital offence under Tanzanian law; whereas he remains in detention under life-threatening conditions;

F.whereas other opposition leaders and critics were arbitrarily arrested or targeted, in a sustained purge involving abductions and disappearances, including that of Humphrey Polepole, reported by human rights organisations;

G.whereas Tanzania’s deteriorating human rights situation and shrinking civic space contradict the EU’s core values and the principles underpinning its external action;

H.whereas Tanzania’s Christian and Muslim leaders condemned the government’s use of violence;

1.Denounces the violence and excessive use of force by Tanzanian security forces following the October 2025 elections, resulting in thousands of deaths, injuries and reported mass graves; condemns the government’s denial of wrongdoing;

Read the rest (8 paragraphs)

2.Urges the Tanzanian Government to immediately cease crackdowns and arbitrary arrests of opposition members, protesters, journalists and human rights defenders, to release all those arbitrarily detained, and to lift all internet and media restrictions;

3.Condemns the arbitrary and politically motivated detention of opposition leader Lissu; calls for his immediate and unconditional release; expresses deep concern about the horrendous conditions under which he is held; demands that he be granted immediate and full access to his family, lawyers and medical care;

4.Calls for a prompt, thorough, independent and impartial investigation into all alleged killings, enforced disappearances, torture and other violations; insists this be undertaken by an external and credible mechanism, including an African-led international commission of inquiry to ensure accountability;

5.Highlights Parliament’s demand to the Commission to halt direct support to the Tanzanian authorities; calls for EU assistance to prioritise civil society organisations, human rights defenders and journalists; calls on the Council to consider sanctions against those responsible for violations;

6.Urges Tanzania to abolish the death penalty and commute all death sentences;

7.Considers the recent elections neither free nor fair;

8.Calls on Tanzania to engage in an inclusive political dialogue with opposition, civil society and victims’ representatives to address the crisis and enable new, credible and transparent elections;

9.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Government and Parliament of Tanzania, the Council, the Commission, the VP/HR, the African Union, the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States, the SADC and the UN.