{
  "id": 18466089,
  "title": "Maraga demands Lissu’s acquittal, accuses East African govts of weaponising treason charges",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/06/maraga-demands-lissus-acquittal-accuses-east-african-govts-of",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-06T07:56:38.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Capital FM Kenya",
    "slug": "capital-fm-kenya",
    "url": "https://capitalfm.africa/maraga-demands-lissus-acquittal-accuses-east-african-govts-of-weaponising-treason-charges/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Nairobi, Kenya - Chief Justice David Maraga has urged for the immediate unconditional acquittal of Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu, criticizing East African governments for weaponizing treason and terrorism charges to suppress dissent. In a statement released on Friday, Maraga contended that Lissu's trial lacked any solid legal foundation, asserting that calls for constitutional reforms, peaceful assembly, and electoral boycotts could not be considered treason. As the United Green Movement (UGM) Party co-leader and a presidential candidate for 2027, Maraga emphasized that the trial mirrored a broader pattern of political persecution within the East African Community (EAC), where judicial systems are allegedly being misused to remove opposition leaders from political involvement. \"The principle of judicial integrity necessitates the immediate and unconditional acquittal of Tundu Lissu,\" Maraga declared. His comments came following the High Court of Tanzania's verdict in Lissu's treason case, which has garnered regional concern regarding political liberties, constitutional principles, and the independence of judicial bodies. Maraga pointed out that the prosecution had failed to substantiate the legal elements required to uphold a treason charge, especially the necessity of demonstrating a specific intent to overthrow a government through unlawful and violent actions. He further questioned the use of such charges against political figures, labeling them as indicative of democratic and intellectual shortcomings among governments apprehensive about political competition. The former Chief Justice further criticized Tanzania's ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), alleging that it has abandoned the democratic and liberation principles upheld by its founding leader, Julius Nyerere. He argued that Nyerere's envisioned East African Community should have been grounded in democratic governance, fair elections, and respect for fundamental freedoms. In addition to Lissu's prosecution, Maraga expressed concerns over accusations of cross-border abductions and the handling of opposition individuals and activists across the region, citing the abduction of Tanzanian activists within Kenyan territory and the cross-border seizure of Uganda's opposition leader, Kizza Besigye, as instances of what he termed \"state-sponsored kidnappings.\" Maraga accused the administration of President William Ruto of permitting foreign intelligence operations within Kenya's borders, arguing that these actions undermine national sovereignty, regional collaboration, and human rights safeguards. He also denounced the practice of offering financial reparation to families of victims of alleged state violence following killings, abductions, and torture. \"You cannot govern a nation by brutalizing your young people, nor can you cleanse the state's hands of innocent blood with monetary payments,\" he asserted. Maraga's remarks further fueled demands for comprehensive constitutional reforms in Tanzania, highlighting previous reform efforts, including the 2012–2014 Constitutional Review Commission led by former Prime Minister Joseph Warioba and the 2023 Criminal Justice Reform Commission headed by retired Chief Justice Mohamed Chande Othman. He referred to the inquiry's findings into the violence that occurred during Tanzania's October 2025 General Election, which reported at least 518 deaths from unnatural causes, comprising 197 individuals shot dead, over 2,300 injured, and 758 missing persons. Maraga cautioned that delaying constitutional reforms could exacerbate political tensions, urging President Samia Suluhu Hassan to engage the opposition in a nationwide dialogue aimed at establishing a constitution crafted by the people. Drawing comparisons to Kenya's constitutional reform process, he cautioned Tanzania against allowing political resistance to reforms to lead the country toward a similar crisis. \"Tanzania doesn't need to bleed to achieve progress,\" Maraga stated. The former Chief Justice also cautioned international partners against backing governments accused of undermining democracy through surveillance systems and other security measures allegedly utilized to target political opponents. He maintained that East Africa's destiny hinged on constitutionalism, accountability, democratic institutions, and respect for human dignity. \"The future of our Jumuia does not belong to neocolonial puppets, corrupt elites, or captured states. It belongs to deep structural reforms, constitutionalism (Ukatiba), and Pan-African solidarity firmly grounded in democratic values and human dignity,\" Maraga declared. He reaffirmed his support for Lissu, his family, and Tanzania's opposition, emphasizing that the region's quest for democratic reforms would persist irrespective of the court's decision.",
  "summary": "NAIROBI,Kenya, Nov 6-Chief Justice David Maraga has called for the unconditional acquittal of Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu, accusing East African governments of increasingly using treason and terrorism charges to…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}