EU lawmakers push to block $179 million EU funding for Tanzania over election and rights concerns

By Solomon Ekanem, BRUSSELS Belgium 

The European Parliament has called on the European Commission to withdraw its proposed €156 million (about $179 million) funding package for Tanzania, escalating tensions between Brussels and Dar es Salaam over allegations of electoral fraud and human rights violations.

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) adopted the resolution on Thursday by a show of hands, rejecting the Commission’s draft implementing decision on Tanzania’s 2026 annual action plan funding.

Lawmakers argued that the proposal failed to reflect earlier parliamentary concerns about governance, democratic standards, and the aftermath of Tanzania’s October 2025 elections.

The disputed elections have been widely criticised following reports of irregularities and a violent crackdown on post-election protests.

According to a Tanzanian national commission of inquiry cited by MEPs, at least 518 people died during the unrest, although the report did not attribute responsibility or publish detailed findings, raising further questions about accountability.

In the resolution, MEPs also pointed to the continued detention of opposition figures, including Chadema leader Tundu Lissu, and expressed concern over restrictions on political freedoms and civil society engagement.

They further criticised what they described as repeated refusals by Tanzanian authorities to allow a European Parliament human rights delegation to visit the country.

Lawmakers argued that the Commission’s draft decision exceeded its mandate and was inconsistent with EU legal frameworks governing external assistance.

They are now calling for a revised proposal that ensures EU funding does not undermine human rights, democracy, or civil society support in Tanzania.

The European Commission had previously suspended the approval process for the funding package in November 2025 following initial concerns raised by MEPs. However, lawmakers said those concerns had not been adequately addressed in the revised plan.

The €156 million programme forms part of broader EU development assistance aimed at supporting governance reforms and basic service delivery in Tanzania, but its future now remains uncertain amid rising political scrutiny in Brussels.

The Tanzanian government has since pivoted to Russia amid fallout with the European Union. Earlier this month, President Samia Suluhu Hassan made the first Tanzanian state visit to Russia in 57 years, taking part in the St Petersburg International Economic Forum as the East African nation signals a shift in its external partnerships.

Tanzania is now seeking more than $2 billion in Russian investment and business deals over the next three to five years, as it moves to deepen economic cooperation with Moscow while reducing reliance on traditional Western partners.

The diplomatic realignment comes after Western countries raised concerns and applied pressure following Tanzania’s disputed 2025 election.

Despite the growing engagement with Russia, officials in Dar es Salaam maintain that the country is not abandoning its Western relationships, but is instead pursuing a more diversified investment strategy.