Tanzanian opposition leader found guilty of inciting unrest but acquitted of treason

Tanzania's main opposition leader, Tundu Lissu, has been found guilty of inciting unrest and sentenced to four years in jail, in a case that has raised concerns about political freedom in the East African country.

A panel of three judges at the High Court in Dar es Salaam acquitted him of the more serious offence of treason, saying prosecutors had failed to prove a key element of that charge.

But they said the 58-year-old, who has been detained since April last year, had encouraged his supporters to disrupt the disputed 2025 general election.

Lissu, who leads the opposition Chadema party, has denied the charges, describing the prosecution as politically motivated.