News, Politics

Ruling Party and Opposition Sign Major Reconciliation Deal in Zanzibar

The agreement aims to end the political impasse following the disputed 2025 elections and establish a framework for comprehensive institutional reforms in the archipelago.

Ibrahim Mgaza

July 10, 2026

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Zanzibar – The ruling Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and the main opposition party ACT Wazalendo signed a joint statement on July 9, 2026, aimed at ushering in a new era of politics grounded in reconciliation in the semi-autonomous archipelago.

The agreement, signed at the State House in Zanzibar, seeks to resolve the political deadlock that followed the controversial October 2025 general elections.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Zanzibar President Hussein Mwinyi, ACT Wazalendo national chairperson Othman Masoud Othman, and retired Zanzibar Presidents Amani Abeid Karume and Ali Mohamed Shein, who facilitated the eight-month dialogue process.

The joint statement was signed by Dr Mohammed Said Dimwa, Deputy Secretary General of CCM Zanzibar, and Omar Ali Shehe, Deputy Secretary General of ACT Wazalendo Zanzibar.

Details

The agreement outlines a commitment by both parties to build trust and confidence through continuous dialogue. It prioritises the broader interests of Zanzibar over partisan or personal agendas.

The joint statement emphasises the establishment of systems and institutions that will strengthen democracy, good governance, accountability, and the rule of law. A central component of the agreement is the commitment to ensuring free and fair elections and the effective delivery of justice.

The process is designed to be inclusive, involving citizens, political parties, civil society organisations, and other groups. The joint statement is accompanied by an agreed agenda that will be discussed by a joint committee. This committee will advise on the framework, procedures, and scope of implementation.

A special mechanism will be established under the law to coordinate and oversee the execution of the agreement.

The reconciliation agreement emerges from the political crisis following the October 29, 2025, general elections. President Mwinyi was re-elected with 74.8 per cent of the vote, but the process was marred by controversies and allegations of irregularities.

ACT Wazalendo rejected the election results and initially boycotted joining the Government of National Unity (GNU), a constitutional requirement in Zanzibar designed to include the runner-up party in the administration. Efforts to reach a consensus before the 2025 elections had failed, leading to heightened tensions.

The post-election impasse prompted the initiation of reconciliation talks on November 9, 2025, facilitated by the retired presidents.

Reactions

During the ceremony, leaders from both sides expressed optimism about the agreement while acknowledging the challenges ahead.

President Samia commended the step, stating that the reconciliation opens a new chapter in strengthening unity, stability, and solidarity among Zanzibaris. She described the event as a sign of political maturity and a confirmation of the leaders’ commitment to building an environment of peace and sustainable development.

President Mwinyi assured citizens and political leaders of his readiness to cooperate in advancing the reconciliation.

“This step is a reflection of the sincere intention of Zanzibar’s leaders to continue dialogue, build trust, and put the broad interests of the country and its citizens first, which is an important foundation for strengthening political stability, social cohesion, and sustainable development,” he said.

On his part, Mr Othman praised the facilitators and highlighted the necessity of the agreement for Zanzibar’s future. He noted that the initial differences between the parties were vast, but the wisdom of the retired presidents helped bridge the gap.

“What can be achieved through peace and dialogue has greater and more sustainable value than what is achieved through chaos,” he said. “This is the main foundation that built us.”

Othman emphasised that the agreement is not merely a political fix for elections but a comprehensive effort to address long-term social and economic needs.

The implementation of the agreement will begin immediately. The joint committee will conduct an in-depth analysis of the agreed agenda items. Following this, an implementation commission will be established by a specific law to oversee the process professionally.

Key areas targeted for reform include reviewing the constitution, the electoral management system, the civil service, the justice delivery system, and local government structures.

History of consensus-building

This agreement is the latest in a series of attempts to achieve political stability in the semi-autonomous archipelago. Since the reintroduction of multiparty politics in 1995, Zanzibar’s elections have frequently been tightly contested and followed by political crises.

Previous reconciliation efforts include Muafaka I in 1999, brokered by the Commonwealth, and Muafaka II in the early 2000s. Both agreements struggled with implementation and lacked sufficient political will.

The most significant previous milestone was the Maridhiano (reconciliation) process in 2009, initiated by then-President Amani Karume and CUF leader Maalim Seif Shariff Hamad. This led to a 2010 referendum where 68.7 per cent of Zanzibaris voted to amend the constitution and establish the Government of National Unity.

The GNU brought relative peace between 2010 and 2015 but collapsed following the annulment of the 2015 elections.

Structural challenges

Research on Zanzibar’s political history indicates that achieving genuine reconciliation and political pluralism faces structural challenges.

Studies consistently suggest that previous power-sharing agreements in Zanzibar functioned more as “position sharing” rather than genuine “power sharing.” The system was constitutionalised through a hybrid format of continuity and collusion, which broke down when voters sought transformational change rather than the status quo.

Furthermore, scholars like Arend Lijphart have observed that power-sharing agreements are difficult to arrive at, harder to implement, and rarely stand the test of time without deep institutional anchoring.

In Zanzibar, the GNU framework lacked clear mechanisms for implementing government policy as a coalition, often defaulting to the manifesto of the ruling party.

Research on successful reconciliation processes and power-sharing arrangements suggests several factors that have proven important for sustainability.

Scholars identify institutional reform as critical for successful reconciliation processes and power-sharing arrangements, including deep structural reforms in the electoral commission, judiciary, and civil service to ensure independence and impartiality.

They emphasise the importance of genuine power-sharing mechanisms that establish clear procedures for joint policy formulation and implementation within coalition frameworks.

Societal anchoring – ensuring the reconciliation process is inclusive of civil society, religious leaders, and the broader public rather than remaining an elite agreement—has been identified as another key factor.

Additionally, addressing underlying political economy issues and divergent policy stances, such as disputes over the structure of the Union, through structured dialogue, has been recommended by researchers studying Zanzibar’s political dynamics.

The July 9 agreement acknowledges some of these historical lessons by explicitly including plans for constitutional and institutional reviews and promising an inclusive process.

Political analyst and researcher Nicodemas Minde says the latest reconciliation initiative differs from previous agreements because it proposes the establishment of a legally mandated implementation body to oversee the process.

“What stands out this time is the proposed implementation mechanism,” Minde said. “The parties have agreed to establish a body grounded in law and regulations that will bring both sides together to deliberate in depth on how the agreement will be implemented.”

According to Minde, one of the major weaknesses of previous reconciliation agreements was the absence of a formal institution responsible for ensuring implementation, contributing to a recurring cycle of ambitious political settlements that ultimately failed to endure.

He also credits the breakthrough to months of behind-the-scenes engagement led by former Zanzibar presidents Amani Abeid Karume and Ali Mohamed Shein, who facilitated the dialogue between CCM and ACT Wazalendo.

Despite the optimism surrounding the agreement, Minde cautions that institutions alone will not guarantee success.

“In the end, what matters most is political will,” he said. “Strong and sustained commitment from the political actors themselves will determine whether this agreement succeeds.”

Analysts believe that the success of this new chapter will depend on the political will to translate the signed document into tangible democratic reforms.