Western governments, including several European nations, Canada, and the United States, have issued statements urging Tanzania to address alleged human rights abuses following recent election.
In a joint communiqué, the United Kingdom, Norway, EU member states, and Canada called on the Tanzanian government to respect fundamental freedoms amid reports of arrests of opposition politicians, extrajudicial killings, and the concealment of bodies. The statement urged authorities to release detainees, return concealed bodies to families, and ensure all detainees have access to legal representation and medical care.
The joint statement further pressed the government to cooperate in facilitating an independent and transparent investigation into the violence, with the involvement of civil society organizations, faith-based groups, and political actors.
Separately, the United States issued its own reassessment of its relationship with Tanzania. State Department noted the review was prompted by what Washington views as ongoing repression and continued rights violations, which poses obstacles to U.S. investment interests and risks to the safety of American citizens and tourists in the country.
While the international community (EU, civil society, human-rights organizations) has spoken out before, almost immediately after the elections, the new joint diplomatic statement and the U.S. review together constitute the first time there’s such a coordinated, multi-national effort demanding concrete remedial action.
