Tanzanian Muslim President Samiya Solho Hassan has announced the lifting of the ban on political gatherings imposed by her predecessor John Magufuli in 2016 on the opposition.

"I am here to announce that the ban on political gatherings has now been lifted," said the President, during a meeting with heads of political parties in the economic capital, Dar es Salaam.

"You are free to criticize the government," she added.

"There will be further legal reforms to ensure that the rights of all parties are respected," she added.

Amnesty International welcomed the decision, saying that "while the ban should not have taken place in the first place, we applaud the Tanzanian government's decision to lift the blanket ban on political assemblies in the country, which has been used in the past to arbitrarily arrest and detain prominent opposition politicians."

"It is a welcome step in the right direction, and we urge the Tanzanian authorities to move towards greater protection of human rights, including by repealing or amending the Political Parties Act to remove all obstacles to the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly, association and expression," she added. .

After his election in October 2015, President Magufuli banned public gatherings of political parties.

However, this prohibition did not actually extend only to the opposition, because the ruling party since independence in 1961: "Chama Cha Mapinduzi" could still organize assemblies wherever and whenever it wanted.

The announcement represents a new sign of openness since the inauguration of Samia Solho Hassan, who succeeded dictator John Magufuli, who ruled from 2015 until his sudden death in March 2021.

Samia Hassan extended her hand to the opposition, allowed the reopening of media outlets banned under Magufuli, and pledged support for democracy and basic freedoms.