**The thorny issue of human rights violations in Tanzania ahead of elections**
As Tanzania prepares for local elections later this year and a presidential election next year, concerns about human rights violations are rising. The UN Human Rights Council has expressed alarm at this worrying situation, which is worsening in the run-up to the polls.
Reports from Tanzania point to a climate of repression and human rights violations. Of particular concern are allegations of enforced disappearances of opposition leaders, members of civil society, journalists and human rights defenders. These reprehensible acts raise serious questions about democracy and respect for individual freedoms in the country.
It is disturbing to note that enforced disappearances appear to be increasing before, during and after elections. This escalation of repression raises serious concerns about the commitment to respecting democratic principles and human rights in Tanzania.
The recent arbitrary detentions of leaders of the opposition Chadema party during a demonstration organized in response to the disappearance and assassination of several of their members underscore the urgency of the situation. These violent acts targeting the opposition and civil society cannot go unpunished.
It is essential that the international community remains vigilant in the face of these human rights violations in Tanzania. It is everyone’s duty to denounce these attacks on fundamental freedoms and to put pressure on the Tanzanian authorities to ensure a transparent electoral process free from intimidation.
At this crucial time for democracy in Tanzania, it is essential that the voices of reason and justice be heard. Human rights cannot be trampled on in the name of political power. The United Nations and the international community must act together to uphold universal values and protect the dignity of every individual in Tanzania.