Tanzanian opposition leader jailed in ‘politically motivated’ case

Tundu Lissu, the leader of Tanzania's main opposition party Chadema, was sentenced to four years in prison on November 6, 2026, for incitement after being acquitted of treason charges that could have led to a death sentence. The High Court in Dar es Salaam found him guilty despite his claims that the prosecution was politically motivated and his arrest six months before the disputed 2025 general election had stifled political freedoms. President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who won the October 2025 election with 98% of the vote, has repeatedly denied targeting opponents. The case fueled unrest during the elections, resulting in hundreds of deaths as police clashed with protesters across multiple cities.