Tanzanian court clears Tundu Lissu of treason, jails him four years for incitement

A Tanzanian court on Friday, 6 November 2026, cleared opposition leader Tundu Lissu of treason. It found him guilty of incitement and sentenced him to four years in prison.

The treason charge carried a possible death sentence, which Lissu no longer faces.

Lissu, 58, leads Chadema, Tanzania's main opposition party. He was arrested in April 2025, about six months before the October 2025 election, and has spent 19 months in jail. He has denied wrongdoing.

Security was tightened in Dar es Salaam and around the courthouse ahead of the verdict. The courtroom was packed with his supporters.

According to AllAfrica, a panel of three judges delivered the verdict at the High Court in Dar es Salaam. DW reported that incitement was not among the charges Lissu faced. Al Jazeera quoted the judge as saying: "We sentence you to four years in prison but the doors are open for appeal."

The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not describe the legal basis for the incitement conviction. They also do not say whether his time in detention counts toward the sentence, or whether either side will appeal.

Chadema was excluded from the October 2025 election, which President Samia Suluhu Hassan won. AllAfrica reported that she took 98 percent of the vote. DW and AllAfrica report that Lissu's arrest, Chadema's exclusion and alleged abductions of government critics helped fuel protests around the vote.

What is disputed

• Lissu's statements: The court found they were intended to disrupt elections and instigate violence. Lissu says his speech broke no law and his comments were taken out of context.
• The death toll: A commission appointed by Tanzanian authorities said at least 518 people died in the unrest. Opposition figures and rights groups put the toll in the thousands. The reports do not include an independently verified figure.
• Responsibility: The commission blamed protesters. According to AllAfrica, opposition groups and rights organizations say the authorities killed thousands. The government rejects allegations of excessive force.

What each side says

• Lissu: DW quoted him as saying: "All this was political persecution. Excuses were created to imprison me." He also suggested the judges were following directives, according to Al Jazeera.
• Prosecutors: They said Lissu told supporters the opposition would "block the election" and "mobilize rebellion".
• British and EU lawmakers: They described the case as politically motivated and called for his immediate release. The reports do not include their reaction to the verdict.
• President Hassan: According to AllAfrica, she called the election fair and transparent and blamed foreigners for the unrest. The reports do not include any reaction from her or the government to the verdict.

Analysis

The verdict removes the possibility of a death sentence but leaves Tanzania's main opposition leader facing a prison term. The split outcome may not settle the wider dispute. Some may see it as evidence of judicial independence, while others may view it as support for the complaints made by Lissu and foreign lawmakers. Much could depend on whether an appeal is filed, how his time in detention is treated and how the authorities respond. The competing death tolls also remain unresolved, which could keep questions about the 2025 election alive.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.