Tanzanian Opposition Leaders Freed Amidst Mass Arrests

Senior leaders of the main opposition party, Chadema, including Chairman Freeman Mbowe and his deputy Tundu Lissu, have been released on bail.

This comes after their detention ahead of a youth rally in the southwestern town of Mbeya, which was banned by the police. The arrests have raised fears of a return to the repressive policies of the late President John Magufuli, despite promises of political reform by his successor, President Samia Suluhu Hassan.

The crackdown saw approximately 520 people detained nationwide, with police citing concerns over potential violence inspired by recent youth-led protests in neighboring Kenya. "We won't provide a chance to a few criminals to destroy peace by copying what is happening in neighboring countries," stated Police Commissioner Awadh Haji.

Rights organizations and opposition figures have condemned the mass arrests. Oryem Nyeko, a researcher at Human Rights Watch, remarked, "It's troubling because it's very similar to the mass opposition arrests we saw when Magufuli was president." Amnesty International also criticized the detentions, calling them an effort to intimidate the opposition ahead of local government elections later this year and national elections in 2025.

Despite President Hassan's efforts to ease restrictions on the media and opposition since taking office in 2021, arbitrary detentions appear to persist. The Chadema party's youth wing had planned the rally to mark International Youth Day, expecting around 10,000 attendees under the slogan "take charge of your future." However, police accused the party of planning violent demonstrations.

Chadema spokesman John Mrema confirmed the release of several top leaders but noted that some supporters remained in custody. He posted on X (formerly Twitter) that the party offices in Mbeya were "surrounded by the police and they are not allowing people to enter."