Tanzanian opposition leader to face trial on treason charges

Tanzania’s opposition leader Tundu Lissu is to face trial on treason charges after a court on Friday ruled that he has a case to answer.

The head of the opposition Chadema party has been detained since April last year for allegedly inciting the public to boycott the November elections.

Ahead of the polls Lissu's party had conducted an election reform campaign dubbed "No Reforms, No Elections", which led to his arrest.

Tanzania’s faced international criticism for its violent repression of protests around the elections with opposition and rights groups saying thousands were killed by security forces.

Security was tight on Friday as his supporters packed the high court for the ruling which was also attended by foreign diplomats.

Lissu, a long-time campaigner who returned from exile in 2023, has faced multiple arrests over the years and survived an assassination attempt in 2017.

The ruling by a three-judge bench came days after prosecutors presented evidence and 17 witnesses testified against him.

Lissu, who represented himself, said the judges needed to ensure he could meet his lawyers who have not been allowed to visit him in jail.

He also asked them to “summon” several high-ranking government officials - including President Samia Suluhu Hassan - he intends calling as defence witnesses.

If found guilty, he could face the death penalty.

Lissu's party accuses Hassan, who won the last election with 98 per cent of the vote, of a return to the repressive tactics of her predecessor, John Magufuli.

The government says more than 500 people were killed during the election unrest, without saying who was responsible.