Tanzania has stepped up its opposition to a planned debate in the European Union Parliament, accusing Brussels of attempting to judge the country’s political crisis without giving it the chance to defend itself.
The clash comes as the EU Parliament prepares to discuss a motion on the October 29 elections, which have triggered tension both inside and outside Tanzania.
The motion, to be debated today November 26, 2025, focuses on post-election killings, human rights concerns and the imprisonment of opposition leader Tundu Lissu. Tanzania argues that the decision to proceed with the debate creates an unfair process and disregards its right to respond to the allegations being raised in the session.
Through a formal note sent by its Embassy in Brussels, Tanzania says the European Parliament is acting outside international norms by debating the issue without giving the concerned state an equal opportunity to share facts.
The communication, dated November 25, 2025 (Ref. No: CKAG204/699/01), accuses the EU of going against the rules set in the Samoa Agreement, the guiding framework for cooperation between the EU and African, Caribbean and Pacific (OACPS-AU) countries.
"The Government is concerned that a matter of such gravity touching directly on the sovereignty and reputation of the United Republic of Tanzania is being advanced without affording the Government an opportunity to present its side and clarify facts," the letter states.
It further explains, “The Government further recalls the universally recognised principle of natural justice regarding the right of the concerned party to be heard before conclusions are drawn. This principle has not been observed, including during earlier discussions at the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), where Tanzania was not invited to provide factual clarification. As a result, the debate risks being informed by unverified reports and one-sided narratives.”
Tanzania maintains it is committed to upholding the rule of law and democratic values. It says a national commission of enquiry is already in place to look into the unrest reported during the election period, when Samia Suluhu Hassan secured nearly 98 per cent of the vote.
The government has, however, not released casualty figures from the violent four-day period, which saw both internet and electricity cut off during the height of protests.
Civil society groups and opposition figures continue to claim that more than 2,000 people lost their lives in the crackdown and were buried in mass graves. Tanzania has not issued any official explanation addressing these claims.
The situation has also attracted criticism on the continent, with the African Union refusing to recognise the election outcome, saying the vote went against the democratic principles that define the AU’s mandate.
Earlier this week, committees in the European Parliament voted against a €156 million development funding package for Tanzania, citing what they described as democratic decline. The motion set for debate today could introduce further measures against the government.
Within Tanzania, authorities have launched a wave of arrests targeting individuals and WhatsApp group managers accused of pushing for another round of demonstrations to coincide with Independence Day on December 9.
Samia has already suspended all public celebrations and ordered that funds reserved for the event be redirected towards rebuilding infrastructure damaged during the recent unrest.
Her swearing-in took place on November 4, 2025 at a military facility in Dodoma, with the public blocked from attending. Since then, she has kept a low public profile and held few open events.
