The East African country’s leading opposition party said that its presidential candidate in the last election and its chairman were among dozens detained before a protest called to draw attention to the killing and abduction of government critics.

Two leaders of Tanzania's main opposition Chadema party are among 14 members who were briefly detained on Monday, as police attempted to block a banned demonstration in the main city, Dar es Salaam. Chadema said on X that its chairman, Freeman Mbowe, was taken into custody as he was preparing to “lead a peaceful protest”.

Police have arrested Tanzania’s most prominent opposition figures whose party has called for protests against what it says is a crackdown targeting its supporters