Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has pardoned 1,036 prisoners. Of these, 22 were released and 1,014 had their sentences reduced.
The pardon was granted on December 9, 2025, the country’s 64th anniversary of independence.
It is an annual act of pardon granted by the President of Tanzania on December 9, in accordance with the country’s constitution, which empowers the President to grant pardons to deserving prisoners.
The Ministry of Internal Security issued a statement urging those who were released to behave well in society and avoid engaging in any conduct that could lead to their return to prison.
The ministry explained that the pardoned prisoners were those sentenced to more than two years in prison and had served a quarter of their sentence.
Among them, the elderly over 70 years of age, pregnant mothers or those imprisoned with children, prisoners with chronic or debilitating illnesses, and those with physical or mental disabilities were the ones who received the pardon.
However, it states that people who have been sentenced but are imprisoned outside prison are not eligible for this pardon, as well as people convicted of crimes of using their power for personal gain, embezzlement, corruption, and crimes of violence, especially against children.
People convicted of any crime, including theft, murder, selling human or animal parts, attempting to evade justice, escaping from prison, robbery, recidivism, and people sentenced to life imprisonment are also ineligible for this pardon.
