Tanzanian Opposition Leader Defiantly Appears in Treason Trial

Tundu Lissu, the leader of Tanzania’s main opposition party, Chadema, has appeared in court facing serious charges of treason, which could potentially result in the death penalty. Lissu, who previously survived a 2017 assassination attempt in which he was shot 16 times, entered the courtroom defiantly with his fist raised, while his supporters chanted slogans like “No reforms, no election.” The trial, held at the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court in Dar-es-Salaam, has sparked growing concern over democratic backsliding in East Africa.

Lissu is accused by prosecutors of urging the public to rebel and obstruct the upcoming presidential and legislative elections scheduled for October. The charges stem from a speech he made, though the opposition sees them as politically motivated. Chadema, his party, has been disqualified from participating in the upcoming elections after demanding electoral reforms, which they claim heavily favor the ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM). CCM has been in uninterrupted power since Tanzania gained independence from British colonial rule in 1961.

Despite having been forced to attend a previous court session virtually from prison on April 24, Lissu insisted on being physically present for this hearing. Addressing his supporters, he reassured them with a message of strength and resilience, saying, “We will be fine… Don’t worry at all.” His stance and the government's handling of his case have amplified regional and international scrutiny of Tanzania’s political climate.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who succeeded the late President John Magufuli, has promised to uphold human rights, but a series of high-profile arrests have cast doubt on that commitment. Critics argue that her administration is continuing the same suppressive tactics against dissent. She plans to seek re-election in October, a move that coincides with rising tensions and allegations of democratic suppression.

The trial has also attracted international attention, particularly from neighboring Kenya. Several prominent Kenyan rights activists, including former Justice Minister Martha Karua and former Supreme Court President Willy Mutunga, attempted to attend Lissu’s trial in a show of solidarity but were denied entry upon arrival in Tanzania. They were detained at Julius Nyerere International Airport and later deported. Karua condemned the actions, stating that the state should not be used as a personal tool to suppress dissent and that deporting people for political differences is unacceptable. Another activist, Hussein Khalid, confirmed on social media that he and others were being held in an interrogation room and were expected to be deported.

Karua also raised concerns about what she sees as a coordinated effort between Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda to erode democratic values across the region. Her remarks come amid broader worries about democratic regression in East Africa. For example, Ethiopia recently banned the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, its main opposition party, from political participation ahead of elections due by mid-2026. In South Sudan, national elections have been repeatedly postponed, and President Salva Kiir has placed his longtime political rival, First Vice President Riek Machar, under house arrest. In Rwanda, President Paul Kagame was re-elected last year with over 99% of the vote amid widespread accusations of suppressing opposition voices.

Together, these developments point to a worrying trend of authoritarianism gaining ground across East Africa.