Tanzania court rules opposition leader has case to answer in treason trial

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Tanzania's main opposition leader Tundu Lissu (R) reacts as he arrives at the High Court to attend a hearing on whether he has a case to answer in his treason trial, in Dar es Salaam on August 21, 2026. [AFP]

A Tanzanian court on Friday ruled that the treason trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu will go ahead after finding that he has a case to answer.

Lissu, head of the opposition Chadema party, was detained in April 2025 and charged with treason, which carries a potential death penalty, for allegedly inciting the public to boycott last year's elections.

The long-time campaigner, who returned from exile in 2023, has faced multiple arrests over the years and survived an assassination attempt in 2017.