Tanzania Votes Amid Opposition Crackdown and Rights Abuse Allegations

Tanzania's 2025 general election, expected to involve over 37 million voters, is widely criticized for lacking fairness and competitiveness due to the exclusion of major opposition figures through arrests and disqualifications. President Samia Suluhu Hassan, seeking her first full term, faces no significant opposition as key candidates like Tundu Lissu of CHADEMA are jailed on charges such as treason, and other opposition parties face bans. Rights groups, including Amnesty International, report widespread human rights abuses including abductions, torture, and extrajudicial killings aimed at silencing dissent, creating an atmosphere of fear. Opposition parties insist the electoral process is compromised by government interference and demand significant reforms to ensure an independent electoral commission and fair voting conditions. The political environment is marked by intimidation, restrictions on media and observers, and a crackdown on religious and civil society groups critical of the ruling party. Despite a record number of registered voters, analysts predict low turnout, viewing the election as a foregone conclusion favoring the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party.