Tanzanian police have released four senior opposition figures detained over their alleged roles in last month’s deadly protests that followed a disputed general election, the country’s main opposition party CHADEMA announced late Monday.
The unrest, which erupted after President Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared the winner with nearly 98% of the vote, has plunged Tanzania into its worst political crisis in decades, according to opposition groups and rights advocates.
In a statement posted on X, CHADEMA confirmed that Vice Chairman John Heche and Deputy Secretary-General Amani Golugwa were among those freed on bail. Heche had been in police custody since October 22, where he was questioned on terrorism-related allegations, his lawyer said. Golugwa was arrested over the weekend.
Their release comes days after prosecutors charged 145 people with treason and more than 170 others with protest-related offenses linked to the post-election demonstrations.
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“The government must release all political detainees and stop criminalizing dissent,” CHADEMA leader Tundu Lissu said in a post reacting to the development. Lissu himself faces treason charges filed in April, and his exclusion from the presidential ballot was one of the main sparks for the protests.
Opposition groups and human rights activists allege that security forces killed over 1,000 people during the demonstrations — a figure the government has dismissed as exaggerated. Officials have not provided their own estimate of casualties.
The government of President Hassan, who has been in power since 2021, maintains that the election was conducted fairly. However, African Union election observers said the vote fell short of international democratic standards, citing reports of intimidation and restricted opposition access to media.
Hassan’s administration has also been accused of abductions and enforced disappearances of critics — claims the president has repeatedly denied. Last year, she ordered an investigation into the alleged abductions, though no findings have yet been made public.
The arrests and subsequent crackdown have drawn criticism from international rights organizations. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have both urged Tanzanian authorities to uphold due process and ensure accountability for any security force abuses.
Diplomatic observers warn that the political crisis risks destabilizing one of East Africa’s largest economies if dialogue between the government and opposition fails to resume.
President Hassan has so far rejected calls for a new election but has promised to “strengthen democratic institutions” and promote peace.
As the four CHADEMA leaders await further court proceedings, Tanzania’s fragile political environment remains tense. Analysts say the coming weeks will test the government’s commitment to political reform and national reconciliation.