Tanzania's High Court in Dar es Salaam has acquitted opposition leader Tundu Lissu of treason but convicted him of the lesser offence of incitement, sentencing him to four years in prison.

Lissu, 58, leads the Chadema party. Treason can carry the death penalty in Tanzania. Our earlier report said the High Court was due to rule on the charge on Friday.

What the court found

According to reporting on the ruling, a three-judge panel found that prosecutors had not proved that Lissu intended to intimidate the government, which is a key element of the treason charge. The judges instead convicted him of incitement, ruling that his campaign slogan "No Reforms, No Election" amounted to incitement and that his words encouraged people to disrupt the vote. Prosecutors had said he urged supporters to "block the election" and to "mobilise rebellion".

Lissu's response

Lissu has denied wrongdoing and has described the prosecution as politically motivated. He objected that he had been tried for treason, not incitement. "The offence of incitement is one that you, honourable judges, have manufactured," he told the court, as quoted in reporting on the hearing. "You have created an offence that did not exist, and you have done so on political directives."

Chadema says he intends to appeal. The court indicated that he may take the matter to the Court of Appeal. He has been in detention since his arrest in April 2025 and was reportedly taken back to prison after sentencing, despite asking to attend his brother's burial.

Background

The case dates to the run-up to Tanzania's October 2025 election, which was held without presidential candidates from the two main opposition parties and was followed by protests and deadly violence. A commission appointed by President Samia Suluhu Hassan reported at least 518 deaths, while Chadema puts the toll at about 2,000. The United Nations has said it could not verify that figure. Lissu survived an assassination attempt in 2017.

What we do not yet know

  • The names of the judges and the full written reasoning.
  • Any response from the Tanzanian government.
  • When an appeal will be filed and heard.