No bark, no bite — AU and SADC sidestep Tanzania’s poll flaws

In addition, the main opposition candidate, Tundu Laissu, as been on trial, charged with treason and disqualified from contesting the election. The organisations pointed out that the country “required urgent international attention to prevent further deteriorationof political and civic space and gross human-rights violation ahead of the upcoming October 2025 elections”.

Best wishes, Samia!

Instead, South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC), which is also in control of foreign policy execution, said in a statement it was extending its “fraternal good wishes” to the governing  Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), praising its “enduring legacy … as a liberation movement”.

It continued: “The ANC stands in solidarity with the CCM as it renews its mandate to serve the people and strengthen the bonds of friendship between South Africa and Tanzania.”

South Africa is also the incoming chair of the Southern African Development  Community (SADC), after Madagascar, which is experiencing a political crisis after president Andry Rajoelina was deposed. Madagascar’s elections last year were also reportedly marred by intimidation and arrests of opposition figures.

Malawi’s President  Peter Mutharika, who is chair of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Operation, made no mention of the human rights threats in his pre-election statement, saying the body was confident that Tanzania would maintain its “reputation as a peaceful nation that upholds democratic principles and conducts peaceful elections”.

He further urged “all political leaders and their supporters to respect the will of the people, and to act responsibly through … legal means”.

On the ground in Tanzania, the African Union’s elections observer mission in a post on social media platform X on election morning said: “Voters are turning out, and the atmosphere is calm and orderly as the nation begins this important democratic exercise.”

In contrast, news agency AFP reported that voting stations in Dar es Salaam were quiet and that protests took place in some places. The European Union, which also had an elections observer team on the ground, didn’t issue any statements ahead of the elections.

Lack of criticism from AU and SADC

Activists and human rights defenders said the lack of criticism from regional bodies enabled President Samia Suluhu Hassan to break the rules.

There are so many concerns from the public, from the opposition parties, but you don’t really see them addressing those issues

“Tanzania’s democratic backslide isn’t taking place in a vacuum,” says Kaajal Ramjathan-Keogh, Africa director of the International Commission of Jurists. “It is unfolding under the watch of regional institutions, and in particular the AU and SADC, that have failed to raise concerns that could place these elections back on the right track.”

She tells The Africa Report that such inaction cemented Tanzania’s fate as an authoritarian regime. She also expressed concerns about the country’s law that prohibits challenging election results in court despite an order from the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights to amend such practices.

Advocate Onesmo Olengurumwa, coordinator of Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition, tells The Africa Reportthat SADC, the East Africa Community and the AU were made up of member countries who are also accused of human-rights violations.

“These institutions are not independent,” he says. “There are so many concerns from the public, from the opposition parties, but you don’t really see them addressing those issues.”