The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) has called on Tanzania to lift restrictions on freedom of expression within 30 days and to secure the release of opposition leader Tundu Lissu through a political and legal process.
The decision marks the first major action taken by CMAG since Malta’s Foreign Minister Chris Fearne assumed the chairmanship of the group.
In addition to the 30-day deadline on Lissu’s detention and freedom of expression, CMAG gave Tanzania 60 days to restore full digital freedoms and 90 days to convene an inclusive inter-party forum to discuss electoral reform, political competition, detainees and democratic accountability. The group warned that failure to comply with these deadlines would prompt it to consider further measures when it meets again in November.
Tanzania has been gripped by a deep democracy and rule-of-law crisis since the rigged general election of October 2025, in which President Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared the winner with more than 97% of the vote after the main opposition had been effectively barred from participating. The aftermath of the election was marked by a sweeping crackdown on opposition figures, journalists, civil society and government critics.
According to official findings by a government-appointed committee, more than 500 people were killed during the post-election government repression, although critics have argued that the true death toll may be considerably higher.
Opposition leader and CHADEMA Chairman Tundu Lissu has remained in detention since April 2025 on treason charges that his supporters and numerous international organisations describe as politically motivated. His continued imprisonment has become the central focus of growing international concern over the state of democracy, judicial independence and human rights in Tanzania.
Newsroom
Leave a Reply