Tanzania opposition official detained at airport: party

Tanzania's main opposition party said Tuesday that one of its leaders was detained at an airport while trying to leave for a democracy conference in Belgium.

It was the latest incident targeting members of Chadema, the main opposition party in the east African country, ahead of national elections in October.

Chadema has accused the government of President Samia Suluhu Hassan of a return to the repressive tactics of the past.

In recent months, its chairman, Tundu Lissu, has been arrested and charged with treason, which can carry a death sentence, and the party has been disqualified from taking part in the vote.

On Monday night, Amani Golugwa, Chadema's deputy secretary general, was arrested at the airport in economic capital Dar es Salaam, spokesperson Brenda Rupia said.

"Golugwa is now at the central police station," she said. "We are not yet informed about his offences."

Golugwa was due to travel to Brussels and represent the party at the centre-right International Democracy Union conference (IDU).

The IDU strongly condemned the incident, describing it as an "unlawful arrest" on X, and called for his immediate release.

"Silencing opposition voices violates the core of democracy," it said.

Golugwa spoke out on Saturday about the disappearance of a Chadema supporter allegedly abducted by individuals identified as police.

Police promised an investigation, but there has been no indication of his whereabouts.

Golugwa said the party was issuing a 72-hour ultimatum to the police chief to comment on the incident and other disappearances.

Chadema said earlier this year that it would boycott elections without reforms, including a more independent Electoral Commission and clearer rules to ensure its candidates are not removed from ballots.

The party was then disqualified from the election for refusing to sign an electoral "code of conduct".