Tanzania President Samia Suluhu Meets Exiled Opposition leader Tundu Lissu in Brussel, Belgium

Tanzania president Samia Suluhu Hassan Wednesday with opposition leader Tundu Lissu in Brussel. Lissu has lived in Belgium since a 2017 assassination attempt. He returned to Tanzania in 2020 to run for president but fled the country again after protests against his election loss and what he said were threats to his life.

Lissu, who is Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA) party vice-chair, held a discussion with President Samia in Brussel, Belgium, on Wednesday.

“President Samia, who is also the Chairperson of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, and the CHADEMA leader discussed various issues of mutual interest on the state of Tanzanian nation,” the statement reads.

Lissu shared more details on Twitter. He said he asked the president to drop a case facing the Chadema Party’s national chairperson, Freeman Mbowe, and three other party members who are behind bars, facing terrorism and economic sabotage charges.

Some Tanzanians said the meeting between the president and the Chadema vice-chairperson showed political maturity and promise for the future.

Samia has lately been implementing reforms seen to overhaul some of her predecessor’s decision, including overturning punitive orders against the media and assuring the opposition of better working relations.