UK Foreign Office Roundup for November 10: Deep Concern Over Conviction of Tanzanian Opposition Leader Tundu Lissu, One Company Added to Medical Repatriation List
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) published two updates through GOV.UK on November 10: a formal statement on the conviction of Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu, expressing deep concern and urging Tanzania to uphold fair trial rights, political reconciliation, democracy and the rule of law; and an addition to its list of medical repatriation companies for British nationals who are seriously ill or injured abroad.
In its statement, the UK said it was deeply concerned following the conviction of Tundu Lissu, chairman of Tanzania's main opposition party CHADEMA, on charges of incitement. The statement recalled the findings of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (Opinion No. 74/2025), which concluded that Mr Lissu's detention was arbitrary, lacked sufficient legal basis, was accompanied by serious fair trial concerns and contravened protections in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Tanzania's obligations as a State Party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The statement further recalled Tanzania's obligations under international human rights law, including to uphold the rights to a fair trial, freedom of expression, political participation and equal treatment before the law. It supported the Presidential Commission of Inquiry's view that political reconciliation is an important step to healing the wounds caused by the violence surrounding the October 2025 elections and restoring peace, trust and solidarity, and urged the Tanzanian authorities to uphold that commitment to reconciliation, to a pluralist democracy, and to the principles of a fair trial, due process and the rule of law. The statement was issued in the name of Kirsty McNeill, Minister for Africa and International Development.
On the background to the case, Tanzania's High Court on November 6 acquitted Lissu of treason while convicting him of incitement and sentencing him to four years in prison; he had been in detention since his arrest in April 2025. GSM has reported the verdict itself in detail.
The second update of the day came from consular services. The FCDO updated its guidance "Medical repatriation companies in the UK", adding Arley Medical Services Ltd to the list of providers. The list is for British nationals who are seriously ill or injured abroad and need medical evacuation to the UK; the FCDO states that the list is provided for information only and that it does not recommend or endorse any company listed, and that users must check whether a company can repatriate a patient from the relevant country or territory, the transport and medical support it provides, the full cost and what the service includes, and the registrations or approvals it holds. The list has changed frequently in recent weeks: on November 3, MCP Medical and A.A.L.S Medical Services were added and 000 Medical Repatriation Ltd and Rosy International were removed.
(Source: Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Source: Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：坦桑尼亚反对派领袖 Tundu Lissu 2015年在 Dodoma 的 Kibaigwa 向支持者讲话。照片：Likumbage 摄，CC BY-SA 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu addressing supporters in Kibaigwa, Dodoma, in 2015. Photo: Likumbage, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
