European Parliament has today accused its Ambassador to Tanzania, Mrs. Christine Grau, of remaining silent in the face of political atrocities being subjected to opposition leader, Mr Tundu Lissu.
While making his submission in a Joint Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) and association with the Delegation to the OACPS-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly (DACP) and the Delegation to the Africa-EU Parliamentary Assembly, Mr Michael Gahler, Member of the European Parliament, said such silence from their ambassador is not acceptable.
“We have a similar situation in Tanzania, where the opposition leader is in jail. Yet, our ambassador stays calm and silent, and one of our foreign ministers recently praised the situation. I think that is not acceptable. We should stop all pretensions that we have any values if African countries are allowed to ignore their legislation.” Said Mr Michael Gahler.
The members also slam the Cyprus Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Constantinos Kombos, who recently visited Tanzania, for praising the political situation in the East African Nations.
”One of our foreign ministers recently praised the situation. I think that is not acceptable’’ Said Mr Gahler
“It is a fact that democracy in Africa is at risk. Several countries like Tanzania, the opposition politicians have been excluded from elections and others have been imprisoned”
Dr Kombos was in Tanzania early this month on behalf of the EU to represent Mr Kaja Kallas, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice President of the European Commission, as part of efforts to strengthen the EU’s partnership with Tanzania and engage in high-level discussions on regional and global issues.
The European Parliament has urged its representatives in Africa to speak out whenever an issue of global concern, such as social ills and political persecutions, arises.
The EU parliamentarian spoke just hours after a Tanzanian court adjourned Tundu Lissu’s case yet again after the state failed to table evidence incriminating him of treason charges.
His case will be mentioned again on 3oth July 2025. Lissu has been in prison for almost 100 days since he was arrested and charged with treason and dissemination of false information.