NAIROBI, Kenya – The East Africa Law Society (EALS) has urged Tanzanian authorities to immediately lift nationwide curfews and restore internet access, warning that ongoing restrictions and heavy-handed crackdowns on protesters risk plunging the country into deeper political instability.
In a statement, the regional bar association said the use of lethal force, arbitrary arrests and enforced disappearances following the disputed October 29 General Election had undermined public confidence in democratic institutions.
“What should have been an exercise in the peaceful transfer of authority has instead become a reminder of the fragility of the social contract when institutions of accountability are compromised,” the society said.
The organisation voiced concern over reports of fatalities, injuries, and mass detentions across several regions — including Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Mbeya and Songwe — where security forces have violently dispersed demonstrations.
EALS said the restrictions, including school closures and an ongoing internet blackout, have “further eroded confidence in Tanzania’s constitutional order” and heightened public anxiety.
EALS STATEMENT ON TANZANIA’S OCTOBER 2025 GENERAL ELECTIONS: A CALL TO SAFEGUARD THE RULE OF LAW AND HUMAN RIGHTS AMIDST CITIZEN PROTESTS
Condemnation of Democratic Decline
The regional body accused Tanzanian authorities of violating fundamental rights through the disqualification of key opposition candidates such as Tundu Lissu of CHADEMA and Luhaga Mpina of ACT-Wazalendo.
“As the regional bar association mandated to promote the rule of law, good governance and human rights, the EALS views these developments as symptomatic of a broader democratic regression in East Africa,” the statement read.
EALS reminded Tanzania of its commitments under the East African Community (EAC) Treaty and the Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, which require periodic, free, and fair elections conducted by independent bodies and within an open civic space.
International Obligations
The society also cited international legal instruments — including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance — which prohibit intimidation, arbitrary arrests, and excessive use of force.
“The ongoing internet blackout contravenes the International Bar Association’s guidelines on freedom of expression and the media, undermining transparency and civic participation,” EALS added.
Call for Regional and International Action
The organisation urged the EAC Secretariat to initiate a fact-finding mission under Article 147 of the EAC Treaty and called on the African Union and the United Nations to deploy independent observers to investigate alleged human rights abuses.
EALS further demanded the immediate release of detained opposition leaders, journalists, and human rights defenders, and proposed an independent audit of the electoral process under EAC supervision.
“The rule of law is not an abstract ideal; it is the living architecture of peace, justice, and sustainable development. Its erosion anywhere in East Africa imperils all of us,” the statement concluded.
