Mo Ibrahim Foundation Condemns Tanzanian Government’s “Unacceptable” Actions
DAR ES SALAAM – The prominent Mo Ibrahim Foundation has issued a sharp rebuke to Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, expressing “alarm and misgivings” over a violent crackdown on opposition and a slide away from democratic principles.
In a strongly-worded public statement addressed to “Madame President,” the governance-focused organization stated, “this is not acceptable,” condemning the use of violence against demonstrators.
The Foundation recalled that President Hassan was initially welcomed as a “reformer” following the “authoritarian regime” of her predecessor, the late President John Magufuli. Her early actions, such as releasing political prisoners and allowing more space for the political opposition, had raised hopes for a new chapter of democracy and the rule of law.
However, the Foundation stated it is “dismayed by the new turn taken,” specifically citing the banning of opposition parties from elections, the shutdown of the internet, and security forces “shooting at demonstrators, most of them your young people.”
The statement argued that an election which excludes opposition parties is “neither fair nor legitimate,” and that the resulting public anger is “understandable, and expected.”
Linking Tanzania’s situation to broader continental issues, the Foundation referenced its conference in Marrakech in June, where it argued that peace, security, and the rule of law are prerequisites for leveraging Africa’s resources and attracting private investment. It noted that it had previously raised alarms about growing political violence in pre-election periods in both Tanzania and Uganda.
The warning concluded with a stark reminder of the regional context, noting that the sub-region “is already a home for unspeakable violence and human tragedy in Sudan.”
The final, pointed sentence served as a grave caution: “One failed state is enough.”
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