A Tanzanian court on Friday convicted main opposition leader Tundu Lissu of incitement and sentenced him to four years in prison, while acquitting him of treason, which carried a potential death sentence.
The three-judge panel ruled prosecutors failed to prove Lissu, chairman of the Chadema party, intended to intimidate the government during last year's election campaign.
Arrested on April 9, 2025, after a rally demanding electoral reforms, Lissu spent over 18 months in detention. Rejecting wrongdoing, he called the charges politically motivated. His lawyer, Rugemeleza Nshala, announced plans to appeal and seek bail, while Amnesty International demanded his immediate release following an unfair trial.
Amid tight security, supporters wearing dreadlocks and chanting "Viva!" greeted Lissu, who ended a hunger strike on October 27 after gaining legal access. The court denied his emotional plea to attend the burial of his elder brother, Alute Mughwai Lissu, who died Sunday, returning him to custody.
Lissu remained detained during last year's election, which triggered violence that killed at least 518 people-and up to 2,000 according to Chadema. Lissu previously survived a 2017 assassination attempt where he was shot 16 times.