Statement on Election re-run in Zanzibar

The High Commissioners and Ambassadors to Tanzania of Belgium, Canada, Denmark, the European Union, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States, today issued the following statement regarding the election re-run which took place in Zanzibar on March 20th, 2016:

“We regret the Zanzibar Electoral Commission's decision to hold a re-run of the 25 October 2015 election, without a mutually acceptable and negotiated solution to the current political impasse.

“In order to be credible, electoral processes must be inclusive and truly representative of the will of the people.

“We reiterate our call on the Government of Tanzania to exercise leadership in Zanzibar, and to pursue a negotiated solution between parties, with a view to maintaining peace and unity in the United Republic of Tanzania.

“We commend once again the population of Zanzibar for having exercised calm and restraint throughout this process, and call on all parties and their supporters to re-start the national reconciliation process to find an inclusive, sustainable and peaceful resolution.”