Authorities in Tanzania have released several senior opposition figures detained following the deadly post-election protests sparked by the disputed re-election of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, according to the main opposition party, Chadema.

The four high-ranking Chadema officials, arrested over the past week, were released on bail on Monday, the party confirmed on social media. However, opposition leader Tundu Lissu, charged with treason in April, remains imprisoned.

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Key Opposition Figures Released

Among those freed were:

• John Heche, Chadema vice chairman, arrested on October 22 and questioned on suspicion of terrorism.
• Amani Golugwa, deputy secretary-general, detained over the weekend.
• Godbless Lema, central committee member.
• Boniface Jacob, chairman of Chadema’s coastal region branch.

No official statement has been issued by the Tanzanian government regarding the release.

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Post-Election Unrest and Crackdown

The unrest erupted after President Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared the winner of the October 29 election with nearly 98% of the vote, in a result widely disputed by opposition parties.

• At least 145 people have been charged with treason.
• More than 170 others face charges for protest-related offenses.

Observers and human rights activists claim that over 1,000 people were killed during security crackdowns, although the government insists the numbers are exaggerated.

The Catholic Church in Tanzania condemned the killings, with Archbishop Jude Thaddaeus Ruwa’ichi stating,

“Such acts … are a disgrace before God.”

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Tundu Lissu’s Imprisonment and Political Context

Chadema leader Tundu Lissu remains behind bars, and his exclusion from the October 29 presidential ballot was a major trigger for the protests, which have plunged Tanzania into its largest political crisis in decades.

Since the introduction of multiparty politics in 1992, Tanzania has largely been dominated by single-party rule. Opposition parties and critics have repeatedly accused the government of:

• Suppressing dissent
• Abductions of political opponents
• Human rights violations

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International Observations

The African Union monitored the elections and reported that the process fell short of democratic standards, documenting issues such as ballot stuffing and other irregularities.

President Hassan has defended the fairness of the election and rejected criticisms of her government’s human rights record. While an investigation into reported abductions was ordered last year, no findings have been publicly released.

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Outlook and Ongoing Tensions

Despite the release of several high-profile opposition leaders, the political environment remains tense. Hundreds of individuals continue to face treason and other criminal charges, and Tundu Lissu’s continued detention underscores ongoing concerns about political repression in Tanzania.

Opposition and human rights groups continue to call for accountability for the crackdown and the release of political prisoners, highlighting the fragile state of democracy in the East African nation.