DAR ES SALAM, Tanzania: Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu was arrested on Monday as authorities sought to prevent a mass protest organized by his party, Chadema, in Dar es Salaam.
The protest, which had been officially banned, was in response to allegations that security forces were involved in the kidnapping and killing of Chadema members, including the recent death of party official Ali Mohamed Kibao.
Chadema accused President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s government of reverting to the oppressive methods of her predecessor, John Magufuli, despite initial signs of a more open democracy. Lissu, a long-time opposition figure who survived an assassination attempt in 2017, returned to Tanzania last year after Hassan lifted the ban on opposition rallies but was arrested again in August during another protest.
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Police also blocked the home of Chadema chairman Freeman Mbowe, who called for peaceful protests against the alleged state-sponsored violence. Despite heavy police deployment, including riot officers and water cannons, Mbowe urged Tanzanians to remain steadfast, emphasizing the party’s commitment to non-violence.
The crackdown has drawn criticism from rights groups and Western governments, raising concerns of escalating repression ahead of the upcoming local elections in November and the 2025 general elections.
