A group of foreign diplomatic missions has urged Tanzania to take immediate action over serious human rights concerns that emerged after the country’s recent elections.
In a joint statement released this week on X, the British and Canadian High Commissions, along with 15 European embassies and the European Union Delegation, said the post-election violence demanded urgent accountability from authorities.
The missions referenced earlier alerts issued by the European Union on 2 November 2025 and by the foreign ministers of Canada, Norway, and the United Kingdom on 31 October 2025.
These earlier communications had raised questions about Tanzania’s electoral environment, an issue that continues to attract regional attention, including from Kenya, given East Africa’s long history of disputes over election transparency and security responses.
According to the joint statement, credible reports from both domestic and international organisations show evidence of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests, and cases where bodies of victims were allegedly concealed.
The envoys called on Tanzanian authorities to release all bodies to affected families and ensure that all detainees receive legal representation and medical support.
The diplomats also urged the government to free all political prisoners. They stressed that the protection of fundamental freedoms—including access to information and freedom of expression—is a core obligation under Tanzania’s international commitments.
Similar concerns have occasionally surfaced across the region, including in Kenya during past electoral cycles, making the statement particularly relevant to East African observers following governance trends.
The envoys further pressed the Tanzanian government to address recommendations made in the African Union (AU) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) preliminary election reports.
These reports cited shortcomings in the conduct of the polls, highlighting issues that election observers have long argued need reform to strengthen trust in electoral bodies across the region.
In their statement, the missions welcomed the Tanzanian government’s acknowledgment that understanding the circumstances behind the violence is essential for justice and reconciliation.
However, they insisted that any investigation must be independent, transparent, and inclusive, involving civil society organisations, faith leaders, and political actors.
The diplomats concluded that credible accountability measures remain necessary to restore confidence in democratic processes and prevent further deterioration of public trust.
0 Comments