EU Parliament Calls for Sanctions and Probe into Tanzania’s Post-Election Crisis

The European Union (EU) Parliament has increased pressure on the Tanzanian government. It wants an African-led commission of inquiry to investigate suspects linked to killings, enforced disappearances, torture, and other violations following the October 29 elections.

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) also urged the European Commission and the European Council to suspend direct support to the Tanzanian authorities. They said EU assistance should instead prioritise civil society, human rights defenders, and journalists, and that sanctions should be considered for those responsible. The resolution was adopted on Thursday, November 27, 2025, by a vote of 539 in favour, with no votes against, and 27 abstentions.

The EU Parliament condemned the use of violence by the Tanzanian authorities against protesters after the country’s elections, which resulted in thousands of deaths and injuries amid reports of mass graves.

“The Tanzanian government should engage in a political dialogue with opposition, civil society and victims’ representatives to address the crisis and enable new, credible, and transparent elections,” the EU Parliament stated in a statement.

MEPs denounced the arbitrary and politically motivated detention of opposition leader Tundu Lissu, barred from the electoral process and charged with a capital offence, and urged his immediate and unconditional release. “Parliament also wants Tanzania to abolish the death penalty and commute all death sentences,” MEPs said.

A few days earlier, committees within the EU Parliament voted to object to a €156 million development funding package for Tanzania, citing “democratic backsliding”.

The resolution came even as Tanzanian authorities protested against the EU Parliament’s move to debate the post-election crisis and the imprisonment of the opposition leader Tundu Lissu.

The Tanzanian government had warned that the move breaks international rules and threatens its sovereignty. That move by the EU Parliament sparked a diplomatic standoff between Tanzania and the EU Parliament.

In a formal note to the EU Parliament, the Embassy of Tanzania on Wednesday, November 26, said it was deeply troubled by the planned hearing on the motion titled “Post-election killings and the deteriorating human rights situation in Tanzania, including the case of imprisoned opposition leader Tundu Lissu.”

The government said the issue, which touches on its internal affairs and reputation, was being advanced without allowing Tanzania to respond or correct claims made about the country.

The Tanzanian letter noted that the Samoa Agreement requires dialogue before any unilateral step is taken and cited specific articles that underscore this responsibility.

The government stressed that Article 2(3) calls for “regular and comprehensive dialogue based on mutual respect,” while Article 5 and Article 87(1) place dialogue at the centre of addressing or preventing disputes. It added that moving forward without hearing its side goes against these commitments.

The note also warned that the EU Parliament risks basing its debate on “unverified reports and one-sided narratives,” noting that this was made worse by Tanzania’s absence from earlier discussions in the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

It further added that the globally recognised rule of natural justice had been overlooked. “The right of the concerned party to be heard before conclusions are drawn has not been observed,” Tanzanian authorities stated.

The Tanzanian government said it remains committed to democratic values and the rule of law.

Within the continent, Tanzania has begun to face isolation, with the African Union (AU) dismissing President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s victory, stating that it violates the democratic ideals that underpin the continental body.

The government has cancelled next month’s Independence Day celebrations, saying that the funds will be spent on rebuilding infrastructure damaged during the election protests. The announcement came at a time when the opposition and others had called for citizens to gather on Independence Day, December 9, to demonstrate about the killings that took place following the disputed elections.

While the opposition believes that about 1,000 people died in the crackdown, the government has yet to give a death toll and has set up a commission of inquiry.