The European Parliament’s recent decision to freeze a major funding package for Tanzania has sent shockwaves across diplomatic circles, development agencies, and human rights organizations. The move, which halts the Tanzania Annual Action Plan 2025 and potentially blocks €156 million (about $177 million) in aid, comes in response to grave concerns about human rights abuses and democratic backsliding following Tanzania’s hotly contested October 29, 2025 general elections.
In a striking show of unity, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) voted 539-0 in favor of the resolution, with 27 abstentions, as reported by Kenya Insights. This overwhelming consensus underscores the depth of concern in Brussels over escalating violence, arbitrary detentions, and a crackdown on opposition figures in the East African nation. The European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Maria Luís Albuquerque, made it clear that “business as usual” was no longer possible, stating, “We have put on hold the adoption of the Implementation Decision for the Tanzania Annual Action Plan 2025.” She called for independent investigations into post-election killings, internet shutdowns, and what she described as the shrinking civic space in Tanzania.
The EU Parliament’s debate was punctuated by harrowing accounts of violence, including the killing of protesters, abductions, and the imprisonment of nearly all major opposition leaders. One case in particular stood out: Tundu Lissu, a prominent opposition figure and former presidential candidate, remains detained on treason charges widely seen as politically motivated. The death penalty looms if he is convicted, and his continued detention has prompted international outcry. During the debate, MEPs demanded his immediate and unconditional release, echoing calls from human rights groups and activists in neighboring Kenya and Uganda, some of whom reported being beaten and tortured while observing Lissu’s trial.
According to The Citizen, the EU’s resolution also addressed the plight of Tanzania’s Maasai community, who have faced years of repression, forced evictions, and exclusion from voter rolls—issues linked to land-grabbing for tourism and resource extraction projects. MEPs warned that these long-standing grievances are fueling ethnic tensions and called for an end to such practices.
The October 2025 elections themselves were marred by allegations of irregularities, low voter turnout, and deadly violence. The election agency declared President Samia Suluhu Hassan the winner with a staggering 98 percent of the vote, while her ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party secured at least 90 percent of National Assembly seats. Opposition leaders were either jailed or disqualified, leaving voters with little real choice. The East African reported that youth-led protests erupted across the country, met with lethal force from security agencies. Estimates suggest the death toll may run into the thousands, though the government has yet to release official casualty figures. Many bodies have disappeared, and the fate of numerous protesters remains unknown.
Economic and social costs from the unrest have been steep. Prime Minister Dr. Mwigulu Nchemba, speaking to editors on November 25, described the destruction as “economic sabotage.” The violence left 756 government offices, 27 bus rapid transit (BRT) stations, six buses, 273 private homes, 159 police posts, and 672 private fuel stations damaged. In addition, 1,642 private vehicles, 2,268 motorcycles, and 979 government vehicles were set ablaze, as detailed by The Citizen.
The EU’s resolution goes far beyond freezing funds. It calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners, including Tundu Lissu, an end to arbitrary arrests, torture, and intimidation of activists, journalists, and opposition supporters, as well as independent probes into reported killings, abductions, and mass graves. The Parliament also demanded the suspension of EU funds to state bodies implicated in abuses and imposed strict democratic conditions on any future cooperation with Tanzania.
Notably, the resolution emphasized that any changes to the funding proposal should not “adversely affect funding directed to support NGOs and civil society,” as The East African highlighted. This caveat aims to ensure that ordinary Tanzanians and grassroots organizations continue to receive support, even as the government faces sanctions.
Reaction from Tanzania’s government was swift and defiant. Officials condemned the EU’s actions as unwarranted foreign interference. In a statement, the government warned against a “rising wave of political meddling,” arguing that the resolution undermines Tanzania’s sovereignty. The Tanzanian embassy in Brussels protested that the motion was introduced without allowing the country to present its side or clarify facts, in violation of the Samoa Agreement, which governs OACPS-EU relations and emphasizes mutual respect and dialogue.
Ambassador Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, Tanzania’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, told reporters that the country would not face a crisis despite the loss of EU funding. “Tanzanians will not go hungry because of this. Compare the EU allocation with our annual budget and see what proportion it represents,” he said, according to The Citizen. Tanzania’s national budget for 2025/26 stands at Sh56.49 trillion, with most revenue expected from domestic sources. However, analysts warn that if Tanzania turns to commercial borrowing to fill the gap, the cost of loans could rise significantly due to stricter conditions from traditional development partners.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan, addressing the unrest on November 18, acknowledged that the post-election violence had “tainted our image” and could undermine confidence among development partners. She urged the country to increase domestic resource mobilization and attract more funding to ensure that promised projects are delivered. On November 20, she launched a government commission of inquiry to investigate the causes of the protests, instructing it to look into both local and external actors who may have played a role. “We have reliable information that the youths were paid to take to the streets in the name of demanding their rights. Your job is to find out not only what rights they want precisely, but also who their paymasters were,” President Samia said, as reported by The East African.
The EU Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee chairperson, David McAllister, cited a severe erosion of democracy and curbs on free expression as justification for withholding financial support. “The gravity of the situation makes business as usual impossible,” he stated. The Parliament also called for an African-led inquiry into the reported abuses and for dialogue with opposition parties, civil society, and victims’ representatives to enable credible and transparent elections in the future.
This freeze marks a significant escalation in the EU’s approach to democratic backsliding in Africa. Other international partners, including the U.S. and U.K., have voiced similar concerns, signaling a possible shift in how the global community responds to electoral crises and human rights violations in the region. As the fallout continues, the message from Brussels is clear: Tanzanians deserve justice, transparency, and the full protection of their rights—and silence in the face of such abuses is no longer an option.
As Tanzania’s government prepares its official response and the EU awaits final endorsement of the funding freeze, the world watches closely. The coming weeks will test whether international pressure can spur meaningful change—or simply deepen the rift between Tanzania and its longtime partners.