Tanzanian Police Detain Opposition Leaders Amid Protests

Tanzanian police arrested three opposition leaders to prevent anti-government protests in Dar es Salaam. CHADEMA chairman Freeman Mbowe and deputy Tundu Lissu were among the detained. Police also arrested and later released three journalists covering the protests. Authorities cited defiance of a protest ban as the reason.

Tanzanian police detained three opposition leaders on Monday to curb anti-government protests in Dar es Salaam. CHADEMA's chairman Freeman Mbowe was taken into custody on the street, while his deputy Tundu Lissu was apprehended at his home. Their arrests were part of a broader crackdown involving party officials, members, and journalists.

Despite the crackdown, police later released Mbowe, Lissu, and other senior party leaders. The police cited defiance of a ban on the protests as the reason for the arrests, although they did not specify the charges they plan to file in court. Rights activists suggest the government is targeting opponents ahead of upcoming elections.

The detentions mark another chapter in ongoing tensions between the Tanzanian government and opposition, highlighted by past violence and abductions targeting government critics. President Samia Suluhu Hassan's administration has stated it supports democracy and condemns brutality.

(With inputs from agencies.)