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HARARE – The African Union (AU) has issued a damning preliminary report on Tanzania’s 2025 general elections, describing a process so flawed it “did not comply with AU principles, normative frameworks, and international obligations for democratic elections.”
The report, led by former Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi, is notably more critical than the earlier assessment by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and details a litany of irregularities that compromised the entire electoral process.
The AU’s stark findings have sparked accusations of hypocrisy, however, as the Chairman of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, had previously congratulated President Samia Suluhu Hassan on her re-election—a move that appears to contradict his own organization’s observer mission.
A System Designed to Fail
The AU mission identified a fundamentally flawed legal and constitutional framework as a core problem. Key issues included a constitutional clause that prohibits challenging presidential results in court and the barring of independent candidates. Furthermore, the report noted that the electoral commission (INEC) lacks independence as its commissioners are appointed directly by the president, “concentrating significant powers in the presidency.”
This lack of competitiveness was exacerbated by the arrest of the main opposition party, CHADEMA’s, leaders Tundu Lissu and John Heche, and the disqualification of the ACT-Wazalendo presidential candidate. The AU concluded these actions “diminished the competitiveness” of the vote and violated the AU Charter.
A Climate of Repression and Manipulation
The report catalogued a range of tactics that created an environment hostile to free and fair elections.
· Media & Internet Shutdown: A total internet blackout from election day until November 3rd “hindered citizens’ access to information” and limited observer reporting. Media outlets faced widespread restrictions and deregistration.
· Security Force Abuse: The AU noted “allegations of excessive use of force and politically motivated abductions,” alongside protests, gunfire, and curfews in major cities that posed security risks to observers.
· Election Day Irregularities: Observers reported instances of ballot stuffing, voters being issued multiple ballots, and unchecked identities at polling stations. In some cases, observers were expelled during the critical vote-counting process.
Calls for Action Amid Cynicism
While the AU mission called for “urgent constitutional and political reforms,” the report has been met with skepticism regarding the bloc’s willingness to enforce its own standards.
“The elections were bogus,” stated one political analyst, summarizing the report’s conclusion. “But these reports mean nothing if the AU and SADC do not act. They cannot just give reports and then go away. Actions must follow their reports. Their charters must have a mechanism which is triggered once a nation does not comply.”
This sentiment was echoed in wider public discourse, with many criticizing regional bodies for their inability to hold member states accountable, cynically noting their approach seems to be, “We do reports only.”
The disconnect between the AU’s rigorous observation and its leadership’s swift congratulatory message has further fueled accusations that these institutions prioritize diplomatic solidarity over defending democratic principles, leaving the people of Tanzania and the wider region betrayed.
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