Geneva – Tanzania faced repeated calls to publish findings on the October 2025 election violence, investigate killings and disappearances independently, and remove restrictions on political activity during its Universal Periodic Review in Geneva on November 5, 2026.
The government defended its handling of the violence, arguing that releasing the full inquiry report could undermine investigations and fair trials, while insisting that accountability must cover both those who organised violence and any unlawful use of force.
Minister for Constitutional and Legal Affairs Abdallah Ulega led the delegation at the country’s fourth review.
The exchanges also covered prolonged detention, media regulation and minority rights, alongside recognition of improvements in health care, education and women’s participation.
Several delegations welcomed these gains while urging the government to address remaining legal and institutional barriers to the enjoyment of human rights.
Election accountability
Finland, Germany, Ireland and Sweden called for publication of election inquiry findings, linking disclosure to accountability and reconciliation. Belgium sought independent investigations into allegations of unlawful killings, disappearances and arbitrary detention of opposition members, journalists and government critics, together with remedies for victims.
Germany said it remained “deeply concerned about the significant deterioration of the human rights situation in Tanzania following the 2025 elections,” and recommended an independent, transparent investigation whose findings would be published and those responsible held accountable.
Ulega acknowledged that lives had been lost and families had suffered, describing the election events as “deeply regrettable.” But he distinguished the first commission’s findings from evidence establishing individual criminal responsibility.
“Premature publication could compromise evidence, endanger witnesses, or prejudice fair trial rights and the presumption of innocence,” he said. “These safeguards protect the administration of justice; they do not negate transparency or accountability,” he added.
The Chande commission’s principal findings, presented on April 23, included 518 deaths, a tally it cautioned was not conclusive. A separate commission led by Shaban Ali Lila is pursuing criminal investigations, including allegations of excessive force and responsibility for organising the violence.
Responding later, the delegation said accountability must include planning, financing, incitement, attacks on civilians and police, property destruction and excessive or unlawful force. It maintained that accountability was not dependent solely on publication, but gave no release date for the full report.
That position followed civil society’s anniversary demands for answers about missing people, criminal accountability and assistance for victims and bereaved families.
Detention and freedoms
The United Kingdom raised Tundu Lissu’s detention, citing the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention’s opinion that it was arbitrary and raised serious fair-trial concerns. The review took place a day before the scheduled November 6 judgment in his treason trial.
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UK Human Rights Ambassador Eleanor Sanders recommended independent investigations and prosecution of perpetrators, “including state actors,” as well as remedies for victims. She also urged an end to prolonged pretrial detention and a review of non-bailable offences used against political opponents, journalists and rights defenders.
Germany separately called for review of automatic bail denial, including for treason, so detention would receive individual judicial scrutiny. The Tanzanian delegation contested the characterisation of Lissu’s arrest as arbitrary, arguing that its lawfulness must be assessed against legal grounds and procedural safeguards.
“The courts must be allowed to determine guilt or innocence independently through established legal procedures,” a delegation representative said in the closing responses.
On disappearances, Tanzania said not every reported abduction met the legal definition of enforced disappearance, which required state involvement and concealment or refusal to acknowledge deprivation of liberty.
Nevertheless, it said unresolved cases were not closed and promised to investigate credible reports and establish missing people’s fate and whereabouts.
Estonia recommended that political parties, journalists, civil society and rights defenders be able to operate safely and independently, and urged Tanzania to refrain from internet shutdowns and arbitrary platform blocking.
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Canada sought removal of administrative powers to suspend or close media outlets, while the UK sought changes to restrictive political, media and communications legislation.
Ulega cited the earlier lifting of restrictions on political rallies and four newspapers, together with changes to electoral legislation, as evidence of reform. Denmark acknowledged those earlier openings but said it was now “deeply concerned by reports of grave human rights violations reported over the past year.”
The delegation countered that the Constitution protected expression and association, citing media diversity and engagement with civil society. It said political parties could hold meetings after notifying police, but restrictions could be imposed on lawful public-safety grounds, with written reasons required for stop orders.
A separate disagreement concerned access for UN experts: Montenegro criticised what it described as a refusal to admit special procedures and mandate holders. Ambassador Abdallah Saleh Possi denied that Tanzania had ever refused them entry, saying: “We’ve never done so, and it has never been our practice.”
Unresolved reforms
Calls to ratify the conventions against torture and enforced disappearance came from several countries, including France, Ghana, Italy and the Gambia. Malta noted that Tanzania’s national report recorded no new human-rights treaty ratifications since the previous review.
The delegation said outstanding instruments remained subject to national consultations and legal assessment, noting that the Constitution already prohibited torture. On capital punishment, it cited the absence of executions since 1994, while countries including Canada, Chile and Italy called for formal steps towards abolition.
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Another divide concerned indigenous peoples: Mexico sought protection of Maasai rights and livelihoods, while Switzerland urged preservation of indigenous land rights and cultural heritage.
Tanzania rejected a distinct legal category of indigenous peoples, stating that all Tanzanians of African descent were indigenous to the country and that it did not recognise a separate category of ancestral land.
Australia, Iceland and Malta urged decriminalisation of consensual same-sex conduct, while the Netherlands sought safe reporting of violence without fear of arrest.
Ulega maintained the government’s position on criminalisation, invoking cultural sensitivities, but said dignity and protection from torture applied to everyone and denied allegations of forced medical examinations.
Women and services
Ending child marriage was another recurring recommendation, with Canada, the Gambia and Mexico seeking a minimum marriage age of 18 without exceptions.
Tanzania acknowledged the Court of Appeal’s decision in the Rebecca Gyumi case and said legislative reforms had been initiated, but did not announce their completion.
Luxembourg recommended comprehensive gender-based violence legislation explicitly criminalising marital rape, while Italy sought extension of the prohibition of female genital mutilation to adult women.
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Delegations also welcomed school re-entry arrangements for adolescent mothers and pressed for effective, non-discriminatory implementation.
Asked about second pregnancies and waiting periods before returning to school, the delegation said the policy did not establish a general right to immediate re-entry after a second pregnancy or remove all waiting requirements.
It pledged consistent implementation and support for girls to complete their studies through formal or alternative education.
Ulega pointed to women’s parliamentary representation reaching 39.3 per cent in 2025 and the legal aid campaign reaching approximately 7.9 million people.
Singapore welcomed declining maternal mortality, South Africa highlighted HIV services, and India sought more inclusive education, particularly for girls, children with disabilities and rural communities.
“Human rights must also be reflected in everyday living conditions,” Ulega said, citing investment in essential services and social protection. Delegations, including Azerbaijan and Rwanda, sought stronger implementation of disability and albinism policies, while Egypt and Vietnam urged expanded access to water, health care or education.
The review is a peer examination by UN member states, not a court judgment. Ulega said Tanzania would submit its position on the recommendations; the session chair scheduled their circulation for November 10, consideration for adoption on November 13, and distribution of the complete report on November 20.
