Amnesty International called Friday for the immediate and unconditional release of Tanzanian opposition party chairman Tundu Lissu, who they say was arbitrarily arrested. Amnesty International’s regional director for East and Southern Africa, Tigere Chagutah, implored Tanzania to “focus on upholding fundamental human rights in the country, including the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly,” instead of “using these heavy-handed tactics to silence critics.”

Tundu Lissu was arrested on Wednesday, April 9, and was officially charged with treason on Thursday. His arrest took place at a political rally for his party, CHADEMA, in Mbinga town of southwest Tanzania. The police used tear gas and live ammunition and beat members of the public to disperse the crowds to arrest Lissu. The arrest took place after Lissu had posted to social media several times alleging election tampering. The posts appear to have since been taken down. At a court appearance in Dar es Salaam on Thursday, Lissu was prevented from entering a plea on the charge and was remanded into custody, where he now remains. Lissu is further expected in court later this month to respond to charges of publishing false information.

Lissu’s lawyer, Rugemeleza Nshala, told Reuters that he believed the charges brought against Lissu are politically motivated. Nshalla told Reuters that politics cannot be separated from Lissu’s charges: Lissu “was doing campaigns to educate CHADEMA supporters, but they have turned it into charges.”

Lissu has a history of decrying the alleged corruption of the governing political party, the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), which has caused him significant trouble in the past. Lissu was shot 16 times by an unidentified assailant in 2017, and has faced numerous arrests for “hate speech” regarding his allegations against the CCM.

CHADEMA’s most controversial move has been to threaten a boycott of the October 2025 elections unless the electoral system is reformed. Lissu defined his “most important goal” as “the restoration of democracy in Tanzania,” which he believes cannot be achieved under the current political system.

Although the current president, Samia Saluhu Hassan, was originally heralded as a crucial figure in combating political corruption after she lifted bans on political rallies, the return of democratic norms under her leadership has been questioned. Human rights campaigners have accused the CMM of silencing opposition parties through numerous arrests, unexplained abductions, and “sanctioned” killings of opposition party members.