What Happened: Tanzania's main opposition party has announced that it will boycott upcoming local elections, citing intimidation by the ruling party that is impeding candidates from campaigning, AFP reported Nov. 8.
Why It Matters: The opposition party's announcement comes amid a wave of repressive measures, including arrests and murders, since President John Magufuli took office in 2015. The country could accelerate its slide toward authoritarianism in the coming months as Tanzania approaches general elections in 2020.
Background: Magufuli's government has been increasingly cracking down on critics and dissidents in recent years and pursuing a foreign policy course that has damaged relations with many of its former partners, driving down foreign investment.
Read More:
- Tanzania Takes Another Swipe at Chinese Investment (Oct. 25, 2019)
- Tanzania's 'Bulldozer' President Risks Flattening His Country's Reputation and Revenue (March 1, 2019)
- East Africa: Where Ambition Meets Reality (Sept. 16, 2016)
