Martha Karua condemns Tanzania’s crackdown on opposition leader Tundu Lissu

Kenyan lawyer and human rights advocate Martha Karua has publicly criticised the Tanzanian government for its handling of opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who faces politically motivated charges of treason.

In a strongly worded post on X on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, Karua accused the Tanzanian parliament of openly violating its own constitution, as well as regional and international laws, by using excessive force and failing to protect the rights of its citizens.

“Taifa ambalo bunge lake linakiuka waziwazi katiba yake, sheria za kikanda na za kimataifa, na linatumia nguvu dhidi ya wengine, haliwezi kutarajiwa kulinda haki za raia wake, hasa wale wanaokabiliwa na mashtaka yenye msingi wa kisiasa,” she posted in Swahili.

Loosely translates to;

“A nation whose parliament openly violates its own Constitution, regional and international laws, and uses force against others cannot be expected to protect the rights of its citizens, especially those facing politically motivated charges.”

Karua’s post specifically highlighted the plight of Lissu, the leader of Tanzania’s main opposition party, Chadema, who was charged with treason in April 2025 following his nationwide campaign for electoral reforms under the slogan “No Reforms, No Election.”

Tundu Lissu’s arrest

Lissu has been a vocal critic of the Tanzanian government, demanding changes to the electoral commission to ensure free and fair elections. His arrest and subsequent charges have been widely condemned as an attempt to silence dissent ahead of the country’s upcoming elections.

Karua’s comments come on the heels of her deportation from Tanzania on Sunday, May 18, 2025, when she attempted to attend Lissu’s court hearing as an observer. The Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition expressed shock at the move, noting that Karua had previously been allowed to observe proceedings in April.

The Tanzanian government’s actions have drawn scrutiny not only from regional figures like Karua but also from international organizations. Karua tagged several entities in her post, including the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), the African Union’s Peace and Security Department (AUC_PAPS), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and the United Nations Human Rights Office, urging them to intervene.

She also called on regional leaders such as Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Kenyan President William Ruto, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to address the escalating crisis. Tanzania’s human rights record has been under fire for years.