Jailed Tanzanian Opposition Leader Tundu Lissu Plans Hunger Strike Over Legal Access

Tanzania's jailed opposition leader Tundu Lissu plans to start a hunger strike on Monday, October 26, 2026. His lawyer, Rugemeleza Nshala, announced the decision on Saturday, October 24, after meeting Mr. Lissu in prison. The protest aims to challenge prison authorities for allegedly refusing to allow court-ordered private consultations with his lawyers and sometimes blocking access to him entirely.

Trial and Charges

Mr. Lissu leads Chadema, which is Tanzania's main opposition party. He faces a treason charge that carries a possible death sentence and has been detained for more than 18 months. A final judgment in his trial is scheduled for November 6. Mr. Nshala stated that Mr. Lissu questioned why court orders keeping him in custody are strictly enforced while orders protecting his legal access are ignored. The opposition leader survived being shot 16 times in an assassination attempt in 2017 and previously went on a hunger strike in May 2025 to protest being forced to appear in court remotely.

Arrest and Election Context

Police arrested Mr. Lissu on April 9, 2025, after he spoke at a rally demanding electoral reforms ahead of the general election. Treason charges were filed against him the following day. Presidential candidates from the nation's two main opposition groups were barred from the October 2025 election, sparking protests and deadly violence. An inquiry led by Mohamed Chande Othman found in April that at least 518 people died during the unrest, though Chadema estimated the death toll reached about 2,000.

Context

Tanzania is an East African nation where political tensions have risen significantly around election periods, particularly involving opposition groups like Chadema. Treason is a very serious legal charge in many countries, often related to alleged acts against the state or government. Hunger strikes are sometimes used by high-profile political prisoners as a last-resort method to draw public attention to their treatment and legal rights inside detention facilities.