Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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212. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the details of his engagements with the ambassador and government of Tanzania in relation to recent reports that authorities have killed unarmed citizens in that country (details supplied). [61695/25]

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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The Government is very concerned at the violence and deaths in Tanzania following the Presidential and parliamentary elections held in Tanzania on 28 and 29 October. On 3 November, Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan was sworn in for her second term as the President of the United Republic of Tanzania. On the election day and in the days afterwards, demonstrations took place in major cities, resulting in outbreaks of violence, destruction of property and many road closures. While exact numbers are still to be confirmed, there are credible reports that over 1,000 people were killed following a brutal response by the security forces.

We are deeply concerned at the narrowing of political space in the run-up to the elections, including the arrest of opposition leader Tundu Lissu and reported human rights abuses. We note the preliminary statements of the South African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union electoral observer missions which express concern on the conduct of the elections.

We strongly support the statement by the EU High Representative expressing concern at these events, including the lack of a level playing field in the pre-election period. Along with other EU Member States. Ireland expects swift investigation and resolution of all cases of arrest. All reported incidents of violence, disappearances, abductions and deaths should be thoroughly and swiftly investigated. Ireland underlines the need for reconciliation and national dialogue to address the division in the country.

The Embassy of Ireland in Dar es Salaam continues to closely monitor the situation and is coordinating with the EU and other like-minded Embassies on engagement, including expressing our deep concerns about the situation.

The Embassy has attend the court hearings of Tundu Lissu’s case and, in advance of the election, Ireland also joined other EU Member States and the Head of the EU Delegation in a meeting with the Tanzanian Minister of Foreign Affairs during which we expressed our deep concerns about the shrinking democratic space and human rights abuses, in particular reported incidents of abductions, disappearances, and even deaths.

During the election itself, officials from our Embassy participated in a Diplomatic Watch observation mission, along with EU and like-minded missions. This demonstrated Ireland’s solidarity with the people of Tanzania at a critical point in the development of their democracy.