UK, Germany, 15 Other European Powers Pile Pressure on Suluhu, Demand Release of Political Prisoners, Bodies

A coalition of 17 Western countries led by the United Kingdom and Germany has called out Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu, demanding an immediateaddress to allegations of human rights abuses.

In a statement on Friday, December 5, the UK, Germany, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Norway and the European Union called on the Tanzanian government to urgently release all the bodies of those killed during the protests.

While calling for the release of bodies to the grieving families, thecountries also ordered the immediate release of all political prisonersand the provision of both legal and medical support to the detainees.

According to the joint statement, credible reports from domestic and international organisations showed evidence of extrajudicial killings, disappearances, arbitrary arrests, and concealment of dead bodies.

"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," read part of the joint statement.

The coalition emphasised that Suluhu must act on the recommendations highlighted by the African Union (AU) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in their preliminary election reports.

Both regional bodies identified glaring weaknesses in Tanzania's electoral process, inefficiencies that the Western embassies noted must be addressed if Suluhu wants to restore confidence.

"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 added.

The countries went ahead to call for anindependent, transparent and inclusive investigation into the violence witnessed in Tanzania on October 29.

They further urged the Tanzanian government to take theresponsibility of safeguarding constitutional rights, particularly access to information and freedom of expression among Tanzanian citizens.

"We reiterate our call on the government to uphold its international commitments to protecting fundamental freedoms and the constitutional rights to access information and freedom of expression for all Tanzanians," they reiterated.

The latest development comes a day after the United States announced a comprehensivereview of its bilateral relationship with Tanzaniadue to the killings witnessed in the country.