Tanzania: European Election Rights Investigation Faces Setback As President Suluhu Reportedly Blocks EU Delegation

Tanzania has prevented a European Parliament human rights delegation from carrying out a planned fact-finding visit aimed at investigating allegations of election-related violence and human rights abuses connected to the country’s 2025 general elections.

The European Union delegation had initially scheduled the visit for February 2026 as part of growing international concern over reports of political intimidation, arrests of opposition figures, restrictions on the media, and clashes involving security forces during and after the election period.

However, Tanzanian authorities requested a postponement, arguing that a government-led national inquiry into the allegations was still underway at the time.

That inquiry report was eventually released in April 2026, but despite the publication of the findings, Tanzanian officials have yet to authorize new dates for the European delegation’s visit.

The continued delay has raised concerns among rights advocates and international observers about transparency and accountability in the East African nation.

The delegation had planned to meet with civil society organizations, human rights lawyers, opposition representatives, and officials linked to the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which is based in Arusha, Tanzania.

The meetings were expected to focus on allegations of voter suppression, excessive use of force by security agencies, and concerns about democratic freedoms ahead of and after the elections.

Tanzania has faced increasing scrutiny in recent years over its human rights record and the shrinking space for political opposition and independent activism.

While the government maintains that it is committed to lawful democratic processes and national stability, critics argue that restrictions on dissent and delays in allowing independent investigations undermine public confidence in the country’s institutions.