By Ongaga Ongaga
Seventeen Western diplomatic missions have issued a joint statement urging the Tanzanian government to release all political prisoners and return the bodies of those killed during post-election unrest to their families.
The call comes amid mounting international concern over credible reports of extrajudicial killings, disappearances, and arbitrary arrests following the country’s recent elections.
The statement is signed by the British and Canadian High Commissions and the embassies of Norway, Switzerland, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, and the European Union Delegation.
It emphasises the need for restraint by security forces and respect for constitutional rights, including freedom of expression and access to information.
Despite a media blackout within Tanzania, local and international reporting has continued to shed light on the violence.
The diplomatic missions welcomed the government’s stated intention to understand the root causes of the unrest but stressed that any inquiry must be independent, transparent, and inclusive, involving civil society, faith-based groups, and political actors.
The statement also calls on Tanzanian authorities to address shortcomings identified in preliminary election reports from the African Union and SADC, and to provide legal and medical support to detainees.