Fellow East Africans,
We stand here as East African Citizens, mandated by the fact that Jumuiya ni yetu. We continue to witness human rights violations and the degradation of democracy across the region, and as citizens of Jumuiya, we stand as one. We stand here, grounded in our East African identity, as members of the East African Community. Boarders will not limit our brotherhood and sisterhood. The tragic occurrences we are witnessing in Tanzania go against the very principles that underpin the East African community. We stand here to state that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
Contrary to rumours circulating, no elections are happening in Tanzania tomorrow. As all international media companies have been barred from entering Tanzania, and many local licenses have been withdrawn, we raise our voices on behalf of Jumuiya, our Tanzanian comrades, and the people of East Africa. Tanzanians have spoken by stating, “On our part, we haven't even described it as an election. As for an election to be free and fair, there must, at least, be a competitive election. This is not an election. Ni maigizo. (drama)” - J.K. Tanzania
There are no free and fair elections happening in Tanzania. Samia Suluhu is preparing for her coronation, as her only opposition is her very own shadow. All of her main opposition candidates have either been detained or barred from participation by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The country has been reeling over a silent epidemic of enforced disappearances of dissenting voices, regular abductions, arbitrary detention, torture, rape, extrajudicial killings, and judicial harassment. These atrocities and crimes against humanity are primarily against perceived opponents of the current regime and many people who rally against electoral malpractice.
ELIMINATION OF OPPOSITION AND HUMAN RIGHTS ATROCITIES
The violations have particularly targeted the CHADEMA, the leading opposition party in Tanzania, as well as extending to religious institutions, leaders, activists, influencers, and vocal citizens of all backgrounds. There have been over 250 reported and documented cases of enforced disappearances, with the majority of victims never to be seen again, or their lifeless bodies found months later. This report is available in both Swahili and English.
Additionally, Tanzania has scaled its police force in what appears to be preparation for a war against its citizens, rather than an election. Over the past three weeks, more than 55 people have been forcibly disappeared, tortured, murdered, and held incommunicado. According to a recent report by Amnesty International, repression in Tanzania has intensified. Amnesty has also referred to Tanzania’s situation under Suluhu and the forthcoming elections as unopposed, unchecked, and unjust. The report, titled “Wave of Terror Sweeps Across Tanzania,” is linked here within.
There has been a violent arrest of CHADEMA’s party leader, Tundu Lissu, and main competitor to Suluhu, and an arraignment over frivolous treason charges for merely demanding reforms before elections. His arrest and trumped-up charges, and the regime's overreach, marked a further escalation of civil liberties. CHADEMA was subsequently banned from participating in the election for demanding changes in the electoral code and was further prohibited from conducting any political activity.
Officials of CHADEMA and civilians alike have been arrested arbitrarily, detained, assaulted, generally harassed, and barred from attending the sham trial of Lissu, which by Tanzanian law is a public trial. Shaban Moyo, Felisuts Festo, Dr Fred Chacha Hatari, among others, share their direct experiences, with photo evidence as to the torture they endured in the hands of Tanzanian authorities, here.
We all remember that a team of six observers from Kenya was prevented from entering Tanzania while on a mission to observe the sham Lissu Trial. They were temporarily detained and deported back to Nairobi without any valid reason, contrary to the provisions of the East African treaty. Two of the observers, Boniface Mwangi of Kenya and Agather Atuhaire of Uganda, were violently abducted, arbitrarily detained, tortured, raped, and subjected to other forms of cruel, inhumane, and degrading treatment while in Tanzanian custody.
Still, John Heche, CHADEMA’s national vice-chairperson, was denied entry into Kenya to attend Raila Odinga’s funeral, with his passport confiscated by authorities while still on the Kenyan side of the border—an act carried out with total impunity. Soon after, he was abducted outside the High Court of Tanzania, in blatant disregard of the laws governing arrests. These actions reflect a pattern of lawlessness and political persecution carried out with complete impunity. Unofficial and unlawful travel restrictions have been imposed on almost every CHADEMA leader and any government critic.
TARGETING OF RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS AND LEADERS
Repression has also extended to religious institutions and leaders speaking out against human rights abuses. On June 2 of this year, the Suluhu regime deregistered the Ufufuo na Uzima (the Glory of Christ) Church in Tanzania, led by outspoken Bishop Dr. Josephat Gwajima, who is well-known for his outspoken criticism of bad governance and human rights abuses in Tanzania, as well as his calls for accountability. The regime falsely and maliciously accused the church of violating the Societies Act.
The church was deregistered a few days after calling for an end to abductions and enforced disappearances in Tanzania. The deregistration has restricted the freedom of worship of thousands of Ufufuo na Uzima congregants. Bishop Dr. Benson Bagonza of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT), Karagwe Diocese, has also publicly stated that he fears for his life after receiving credible threats from individuals known as “wasiojulikana” (a term meaning “unknown assailants” or “people who are unknown”, used to refer to unknown political abductors and enforcers, mainly working for, and at the behest of the regime).
On March 16, 2025, a televangelist, Stephen Gumbo, was violently abducted from his home in Muriet, Arusha, by two gunmen who introduced themselves as police officers. He was later picked up at the Kilimanjaro West forest, some 200 kilometers away, having been badly injured, tortured, and brutalized by the gunmen who accused him of “defaming” national leaders in his sermons. In a similar vein, Bishop Machumu Kadatu, alias Mwanamapinduzi, also of the Ufufuo na Uzima Church, had to flee the country after being targeted for disappearance and torture. Bishop Dickson Kabigumila is the latest to flee the country, fearing for his life, after receiving numerous threats.
A while back, on September 6, 2024, Ali Mohammed Kibao, a 69-year-old senior CHADEMA party official, was abducted from a bus in Dar es Salaam. He was reported missing for several hours before his body was discovered near the shores of the Indian Ocean the next morning. Kibao had been brutally murdered, with his face disfigured with acid, indicating apparent torture. There has been no visible progress on the investigation into Kibao’s death to date.
Following Ali Kibao’s gruesome murder, there have been multiple abductions, arrests, and torture, including through rape and other forms of sexual violence, of CHADEMA officials, their supporters, and other Tanzanians who express different views or challenge Suluhu’s repressive regime. In May 2025, Mdude Nyangali, a journalist and author, was abducted by armed men believed to be security operatives. His abduction was reportedly brutal, with scenes awash with trails of blood along the path where he was dragged. Since his abduction and despite calls, protests, and legal efforts, Nyangali is still missing. Similarly, a former Tanzanian ambassador and outspoken critic of the Suluhu regime, Humphrey Polepole, was abducted in a bloody scene. He is still missing.
These attacks are part of a broader trend of violence and intimidation against outspoken critics of the Tanzanian regime, including church leaders, and constitute violations of freedom of religion (protected in Article 18 of the ICCPR) and freedom of expression of religious leaders (protected in Article 19 of the ICCPR).
RESTRICTION OF MEDIA AND ONLINE FREEDOMS
A series of laws and non-legal mechanisms have been employed to criminalize dissent, censor the media, and control digital spaces. Media and digital censorship remained pervasive during the period as journalists and online content creators continued to face arrests, bans, and surveillance. All international media bodies have been denied entry into Tanzania. There are many more examples of the suppressive regulations being passed in Tanzania available through this complimentary report.
LACK OF CREDIBLE ELECTION OBSERVATIONS
No credible observation mission is currently in Tanzania. Belgium, Sweden, Germany, and Ireland have all withdrawn from the elections. The US is monitoring the situation, although it is not providing any official observers. The EU Delegation has no proper observation and only maintains the diplomatic tradition of ‘DiploWatch’. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is not participating at this time.
The African Union Commission has officially announced the arrival of the African Union Election Observation Mission (AUEOM) for the sham poll, despite the ongoing human rights crisis and concerns about the fairness of the elections. On October 24, Dr. Speciosa Kazibwe stated, “As a community founded on the principles of good governance, the rule of law, and respect for human rights, the EAC regards credible elections as the cornerstone of democracy and regional integration.” It is clear that those who choose to recognize the Tanzanian elections are turning a blind eye to the realities of human rights violations, which bar the opposition from participation. Tanzanians have called for a protest, exercising their constitutional rights, in light of the unfair elections that Suluhu plans to proceed with.
NO REFORMS, THEREFORE, NO ELECTIONS
The so-called “election” in Tanzania is a sham. The outcome was fixed the moment Suluhu strangled all opposition, silenced the media, and shut down political space. Most credible international observers have pulled out because, what, exactly, is there to observe in a coronation?
Africans are rightfully outraged that the African Union, an institution meant to defend human rights, democracy, and the rule of law, has chosen silence over principle. It increasingly resembles a club of presidents shielding each other rather than protecting the people they claim to serve. The same betrayal is evident in SADC and the EAC. We are coming to the defense of Tanzanians and hereby give notice to Tanzania and all authoritarian regimes in the rest of East Africa and Africa. As despots regroup to oppress citizens, we, as the citizens, are similarly regrouping to reclaim our countries and our inherent freedoms. Aluta continua!
Signed
- #JumuiyaNiYetu
- Pan-African Progressive Leaders Network
- Vocal Africa
- Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC)
- PAWA 254
