Tundu Lissu's Treason Trial Amid Controversial Tanzanian Elections

Tanzanian opposition figure Tundu Lissu will stand trial for treason as tensions rise before the national elections from which his party has been banned. Lissu, who narrowly missed the presidency in 2020, was detained in April for allegedly inciting public unrest through a controversial speech.

Despite significant personal risks, Lissu demands electoral reforms, citing biases towards President Hassan's longstanding ruling party. His 2017 assassination attempt, for which no arrests have been made, adds to concerns about political violence and repression.

Critics argue Lissu's charges are politically driven, while the trial, shrouded in controversy due to a media blackout, casts a long shadow over Tanzania's human rights record. President Hassan, initially praised for reformative gestures, now faces scrutiny over increased opposition crackdowns.