Tanzania court jails opposition leader Tundu Lissu for 4 years, clears treason
On 6 November 2026, Tanzania’s High Court sentenced opposition leader Tundu Lissu to four years in prison for incitement and acquitted him of treason, which could have carried a death sentence. Chadema officials intend to appeal.
In this article
Tanzania’s High Court sentenced opposition leader Tundu Lissu to 4 years in prison for incitement on 6 November 2026, and acquitted him of treason, a charge that could have carried a death sentence.
Lissu leads Chadema, Tanzania’s main opposition party. Prosecutors had originally charged him with treason, accusing him of encouraging the public to prevent the 2025 election.
The case and the planned appeal
Prosecutors cited social media posts in which Lissu called for a boycott because of concerns about possible electoral malpractice. He was arrested in Mbinga in April 2025, before the general election.
The election went ahead without Chadema on 29 October 2025. Violence marred the vote, and security forces used live ammunition against protesters, DW said.
Lissu rejected the verdict because incitement was not among the charges originally brought against him. He also alleged that the judiciary had acted under pressure. As of 11 November, the government had not issued a statement on his conviction.
Chadema officials have said they intend to appeal the decision.
Chadema also plans to seek bail for Lissu.
Earlier in Politics
GovernmentGeorgia’s population rises by 209,000 to 3.93 million, statistics office says
Revised figures attribute the growth from 2015 to 2025 mainly to migration, while people aged 65 and over account for about 18% of the population.
2 min
CompaniesBrazil’s electoral court fines Facebook 7.5 million reais
The unanimous November 10 ruling penalizes incomplete and late compliance with court orders during the presidential runoff. Justice Marco Aurélio Bellizze said deliberate action to unbalance the election had not been established, and the case will continue.
2 min
SecurityUK unveils naval defense framework for 10 countries
The Northern Navies Initiative proposes sharing autonomous systems and warships among members of an existing UK-led military partnership to improve maritime surveillance.
2 min
