Tanzania responds to the European Parliament resolution

The European Parliament adopted a resolution concerning ongoing judicial proceedings in Tanzania. The resolution expressed the EU's dissatisfaction with the Parliament's decision-making based on unilateral declarations without consulting Tanzania through diplomatic channels. The Tanzanian government subsequently declared that it could not interfere in the judiciary. The statement states: "While Tanzania respects the institutional independence of the European Parliament and values ​​its partnership with the European Union, it nevertheless considers it necessary to clarify some issues and reaffirm its long-standing position on democratic values, good governance, and the rule of law." The Ministry has implemented comprehensive political and legal reforms since March 2021 within the framework of the 4Rs philosophy. These have led to positive results: - including the restoration of political freedom; - the expansion of civil rights; - strengthening media freedom - and the adoption of new electoral laws in March 2024, which led to the establishment of the Independent National Electoral Commission. Tanzania is a sovereign state governed by its constitution, where legal matters are handled independently by the judiciary and in accordance with national laws and international standards. "The government cannot interfere in the ongoing judicial process," it expressed its dissatisfaction with this step, as Parliament made decisions based on unilateral statements without consulting Tanzania through diplomatic channels. Statements that encourage the government to interfere in the functioning of the Court are not only inappropriate but also violate constitutional principles regarding the Court's independence." The Tanzanian government has expressed concern about the apparent tendency of international actors to comment on legal cases in the country without conducting diplomatic consultations. The report noted that the progress made in the areas of media freedom, political participation, electoral reform and regional peacebuilding had not been taken into account in the European Parliament's opinion.