Tanzanian opposition leaders

Tanzanian police have released several leaders of the opposition party CHADEMA and hundreds of their supporters after mass arrests linked to a banned youth meeting in Mbeya. Amnesty International criticized the arrests, alleging they were intended to intimidate the opposition ahead of upcoming local and national elections. Despite some progress on media and opposition freedoms since President Samia Suluhu Hassan took office, arbitrary detentions continue to be reported. Police justified the ban on the youth meeting, citing concerns about potential violence, drawing comparisons to unrest in neighboring Kenya. The Democratic Alliance in South Africa has called for the immediate release of all political prisoners in Tanzania, emphasizing the need for respect for human rights and democratic principles. CHADEMA officials reported that while top leaders were released, some youth-wing supporters remained detained, highlighting ongoing tensions within Tanzania's political landscape.