Tanzania arrests will raise fears of authoritarianism

Significance

They also detained the party's top leadership, severely beating and injuring some of them. This represented the most striking crackdown on the opposition since President Samia Suluhu Hassan took office four years ago, and deals a significant blow to her stated efforts to bring about political reforms in the country.

Impacts

• Further repressive actions may manifest as local and general elections draw nearer.
• The credibility of Samia’s wider reform promises will be significantly weakened.
• The opposition’s hopes of making further political inroads have been dented.