Tanzania opposition leader jailed for four years after treason acquittal
Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu has been sentenced to four years in prison for inciting unrest, following an acquittal on treason charges. Lissu and his supporters have denounced the trial as politically motivated persecution by the government of President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
Why it matters
The sentencing reflects ongoing concerns regarding the erosion of democratic norms and the suppression of political opposition in Tanzania.
Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu was sentenced to four years in prison on Friday for inciting unrest, avoiding the heavier charge of treason that carries the death penalty, in a case that has drawn international condemnation.
Tanzania was considered one of the more stable democracies in Africa but has seen its reputation plummet as the long-ruling government has cracked down brutally on the opposition and protests.
Lissu, head of the main opposition party, Chadema, was arrested ahead of last year's presidential election on treason charges and has spent 19 months in jail.
The court said he was not guilty of treason, but instead convicted him of incitement -- even though it was not among the charges in the case -- and sentenced him to four years in prison.
Headlinne story · 3 newsrooms
Tanzanian Opposition Leader Tundu Lissu Avoids Treason Conviction but Receives Four-Year Prison Sentence
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