Diplomatic missions in Tanzania, including the British High Commission, the Canadian High Commission, and the Embassies of Norway, Switzerland, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, and the European Union Delegation, have jointly called for accountability and transparency following the deaths and injuries reported after the recent elections.
In a unified statement on Friday, December 5, they urged the government to act urgently and respect the fundamental rights of all citizens.
The missions expressed sorrow over the deaths and injuries and urged security forces to exercise restraint.
"We deeply regret the tragic loss of lives and numerous injuries in the wake of the elections. We recall the government's desire for peace and stability, and underline the importance of security forces acting with maximum restraint," the statement read.
They reminded the government to uphold its commitments to fundamental freedoms, including access to information and freedom of expression.
Read More
"We reiterate our call on the government to uphold their international commitments to protecting fundamental freedoms and the constitutional rights to access information and freedom of expression for all Tanzanians," the statement added.
The missions pointed to credible reports indicating serious human rights violations, including killings, disappearances, unlawful arrests, and hidden bodies.
"Credible reports from domestic and international organisations show evidence of extrajudicial killings, disappearances, arbitrary arrests, and concealment of dead bodies," the statement further read.
They also demanded the immediate release of all bodies to families, the freeing of political prisoners, and access to legal and medical support for detainees.
"We call on the authorities to urgently release all the bodies of the dead to their families, to further release all political prisoners and allow detainees legal and medical support," the statement continued.
The mission urged the government to address recommendations made by the African Union (AU) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) observer missions, which cited major issues in the electoral process.
"We further call on the government to address the recommendations made in the AU and SADC preliminary elections reports which set out clear shortcomings in the electoral process," the statement noted.
In conclusion, the envoy welcomed the government’s acknowledgment that identifying the causes of the violence is essential but insisted that any investigation must be independent and inclusive.
"We welcome the government's recognition that understanding the root causes and circumstances of the violence including deaths is a vital step towards justice and reconciliation.
"Any inquiry must be independent, transparent, and inclusive - bringing in civil society, faith-based groups, and all political actors," the statement concluded.
This comes barely a day after the United States announced that it is reviewing its relationship with Tanzania following concerns over recent actions by the Tanzanian government.
In a statement on Thursday, December 4, the US Department of State said the decision follows concerns about governance, security, and the overall direction of the bilateral relationship.
"The United States values its longstanding partnership with the people of Tanzania, which has brought prosperity to our populations and security to the region. Recent actions by the Government of Tanzania, however, raise grave concerns about the direction of our bilateral relationship and the reliability of the Tanzanian Government as a partner," the statement read.
The US government said the review was prompted by several issues, including human rights concerns, investment barriers, and election-related violence.
"As a result, the United States is comprehensively reviewing our relationship with the Government of Tanzania. The Government of Tanzania’s ongoing repression of religious freedom and free speech, the presence of persistent obstacles to U.S. investment, and disturbing violence against civilians in the days leading up to and following Tanzania’s October 29 elections, required this reconsideration of our ties," the statement added.
The US Department of State also warned that the situation in Tanzania has put Americans and US interests at risk.
"These actions have put American citizens, tourists, and U.S. interests in Tanzania at risk, and threatened to undermine the mutual prosperity and security that have defined our partnership for decades," the statement further read.
The US concluded by stating that the future of its relationship with Tanzania will depend on the actions taken by the Tanzanian government.
"The United States cannot overlook actions that jeopardize the safety of our citizens, or the security and stability of the region. The future of our bilateral relationship with the Government of Tanzania will be based on its actions," the statement concluded.
-1764932518.jpg)
