The European Parliament has delivered a unanimous and unprecedented condemnation of Tanzania’s post-election human rights situation, citing killings, disappearances, political repression, and a violent crackdown following the country’s October 2025 polls.
In a decisive 539–0 vote, with 27 abstentions, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) approved a resolution that raises serious concerns about the situation in the country and sets the stage for blocking EU funding and considering sanctions against those responsible for abuses.
In the resolution, the EU Parliament expressed alarm over reports of killed civilians, abducted activists, and opposition supporters targeted in the aftermath of the election. MEPs highlight the politically motivated detention of opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who was barred from participating in the electoral process and now faces a capital charge. They are calling for his immediate and unconditional release and urge Tanzania to abolish the death penalty altogether.
Withdrawal of financing on the EU’s Annual Action Plan for Tanzania for 2025
Following the adoption of the resolution, the European Union confirmed that it had frozen Tanzania’s Annual Action Plan (AAP) 2025, stating that the severity of the human rights crisis makes it impossible to continue normal cooperation without accountability. The Commission signals that collaboration with Tanzanian authorities cannot proceed while abuses remain unaddressed.
MEPs also note that the current form of the EU’s AAP does not adequately account for the serious democratic and human rights deficiencies witnessed in Tanzania—particularly the fraudulent October elections and the subsequent violent government response.
The Parliament’s objection forces the European Commission to revisit its original decision, and MEPs welcomed the Commission’s move to suspend the draft plan pending a full review.
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In addition to freezing funding, Parliament is urging credible, independent investigations, including an African-led inquiry into alleged killings, enforced disappearances, torture, and other violations.
MEPs want the EU’s support redirected away from state authorities and towards civil society, human rights defenders, journalists, and affected communities. They further call for consideration of sanctions against individuals implicated in the violations.
In an earlier statement to MEPs, Maria Luís Albuquerque, the European Commissioner for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union, told the EU Parliament that Tanzania must allow credible investigations into the killings, disappearances, and election-related violence that have drawn international concern to rebuild trust. She also raised concerns about the shrinking political space and the continued detention of opposition leader Tundu Lissu.
“We acknowledge the communications received from the Honourable Members of the European Parliament concerning the situation in Tanzania, which we are following very closely. Given the gravity of the situation, the EU has put on hold the adoption of the Implementation Decision for the Tanzania Annual Action Plan 2025,” she said.
MEPs also called for the unconditional release of all political prisoners, particularly Tundu Lissu, calling for independent investigations into killings and kidnappings.
Suluhu sued
The voting comes after Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu was sued at the International Criminal Court (ICC) over the post-election violence.
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The World Jurists Association and the Madrid Bar Association, in a statement on Tuesday 25, November 2025, argued that Tanzanian security forces have murdered thousands of civilians, enforced disappearances, tortured detainees, committed sexual violence, and displaced Maasai communities.
“This Communication provides to the OTP substantiated information concerning crimes against humanity perpetrated against the civilian population of the United Republic of Tanzania, with particular focus on the systematic attack that occurred during and following the general elections of 29 October 2025 and ongoing facts,” read part of the petition.
Additionally, the organizations have claimed that they have conducted cyber-enabled operations since 2016 and filed an 82-page petition against the government.
The two organizations led by lawyer Juan Carlos Gutierrez filed a petition to the ICC, presenting detailed accounts of crimes against humanity they claim are linked to the country’s 2025 elections.
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