European Parliament Says Tanzania’s Elections Are Not Free and Fair

The European Parliament has raised serious concerns over Tanzania’s recent elections, saying the polls were held in an environment of intimidation and fear.

In a joint statement, senior European Parliament members David McAllister, Mounir Satouri and Merja Kyllönen said the electoral process was “deeply compromised” long before voting day. They noted that opposition parties faced harassment and arrests, and many candidates were blocked from taking part.

“These elections cannot be regarded as free and fair. The fraud did not begin at the ballot box — it has been unfolding for months,” the statement read.

The lawmakers said the ongoing trial of opposition figure Tundu Lissu on charges of high treason showed the breakdown of democratic freedoms in the country. Lissu has been one of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s most vocal critics.

“Lissu must be released immediately and unconditionally,” they said. “No election can be credible when the main opposition is silenced, when freedom of assembly and expression are denied, and when independent media are intimidated.”

The European Parliament called on other nations to speak out, saying, “Silence is not neutrality — it is complicity.”

President Samia Suluhu Hassan had been widely expected to secure her position in the election after major opposition leaders were either jailed or disqualified. Rights groups say the run-up to the vote was marked by what they described as a “wave of terror,” with reports of abductions and intimidation of critics.

Following the vote, protests broke out in several parts of the country, including Dar es Salaam. Witnesses said police responded with force as demonstrators chanted, “We want our country back.” A heavy security presence was reported in major cities, and an internet blackout remained in place through Thursday.

Schools were closed, civil servants were told to work from home, and military and police checkpoints were reported on major roads. There are unconfirmed reports that at least 30 people may have been killed in the unrest.

Foreign journalists have been barred from covering the events on the ground, and local media have not reported on the violence.

Amnesty International said the situation was “deeply disturbing” and warned that the risk of more violence remained high. A member of opposition party Chadema said they had reports of deaths but were still verifying the numbers.

International governments are now advising their citizens to exercise caution in Tanzania. The U.S. Embassy in Dar es Salaam warned Americans about roadblocks, clashes and communication blackouts. Israel also advised its citizens to avoid travel to Tanzania due to the unrest.

President Hassan came into power in 2021 following the death of former president John Magufuli. While she initially took steps seen as opening political space, rights groups say the recent election marks a return to heavy crackdowns on opposition and free speech.