Intelligence Analysis: Tanzania Court Rejects Opposition Leader Lissu’s Treason Objections Amid Exile Offer

Some of Tundu Lissu’s witnesses: President Samia, Vice President Mpango, Prime Minister Majaliwa, DGIS Mombo, IGP Wambura, DCI Kingai, former Chief Justice of Kenya Willy Mutunga, prominent Kenyan politician Martha Karua, activists Boniface Mwangi (Kenya) and Agather Atuhaire (Uganda).

Ujasusi Blog’s East Africa Monitoring Team | 23 September 2025 | 0045 BST

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📑 Executive Summary

• Tanzania’s High Court has dismissed all preliminary objections by opposition leader Tundu Lissu in his treason case, ruling the charge sheet valid under the law.

• The case is seen by many as politically motivated, echoing earlier restrictive rulings by lower courts.

• Lissu has named 15 witnesses, including President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Vice President Philip Mpango, Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa, top security chiefs, and foreign activists like Martha Karua, Willy Mutunga, Agatha Atuhaire, and Boniface Mwangi.

• Chadema claims the government secretly offered to drop charges if Lissu agreed to leave Tanzania permanently—an offer he rejected.

• Proceedings are restricted by media blackouts and secrecy, raising fears of a show trial.

• A July 2025 UN letter already flagged the case as suppression of political speech.

• Trial begins October 6, 2025, with possible scenarios including a public trial boosting opposition support, deliberate delays, selective justice, or international backlash.