IN SHORT: A photo of Tanzanian president Samia Suluhu Hassan is circulating online, with the claim it shows her watching opposition leader Tundu Lissu’s treason trial. But it was taken in June 2024, when the president was actually watching the presentation of the national budget. Lissu’s case did not begin until 2025.
Facebook users have posted a photo that they claim shows Tanzanian president Samia Suluhu Hassan and other senior leaders watching a live broadcast of the treason trial of opposition politician, Tundu Lissu.
The caption for the photo, written in Kiswahili, partly reads: “Rais Samia pamoja na viongozi wengine wakifuatilia mwenendo wa kesi ya ‘Uhaini’ inayomkabili Mwenyekiti wa Chadema, Tundu Lissu. Pamoja na mambo mengine Lissu ametoa shule ya sheria kwa Mawakili wa Jamhuri kwa kuwatajia vifungu vinavyoonesha namna walivyokiuka haki zake za msingi na kutaka shauri hilo lifutwe, akipinga kuahirishwa.”
This translates to: “President Samia together with other leaders following the proceedings of the 'treason' case facing Chadema chairman, Tundu Lissu. Among other things, Lissu provided a legal lesson to the state lawyers by citing sections that demonstrate how they had violated his fundamental rights and demanded that the case be dismissed, opposing its postponement.”
Who is Tundu Lissu?
Lissu is a prominent opposition figure in Tanzania. He is a lawyer and the chairperson of Chadema, the country’s main opposition party. He is well known for his criticism of corruption and authoritarianism.
Lissu survived an assassination attempt in 2017, when he was shot 16 times near his home in Dodoma, and spent years in exile. He returned in 2020 to stand against the late John Magufuli in the presidential election, but fled again after the results were disputed. Lissu made another return in 2023 under president Hassan.
In April 2025, Lissu was arrested and charged with treason for allegedly making statements that incited unrest. His arrest was widely criticised as politically motivated. During the subsequent court proceedings, he publicly challenged the prosecutors, accusing them of violating his rights and calling for the case to be dropped.
This photo began circulating on 16 June, the day Lissu appeared in court and was allowed to represent himself. The photo also appears here, here and here.
But is it a legitimate photo? We checked.
Photo taken in 2024
At first glance, the photo appears to be legit, especially because Hassan has commented on Lissu’s case.
But a Google reverse image search reveals the photo shows the president and her aides watching the presentation of the 2024/25 national budget in parliament.
Tanzania’s State House also published the original photo on 13 June 2024, 11 months before Lissu’s treason case began.
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