Prominent government critics across Africa are facing treason charges. It’s often to silence them

CAPE TOWN: Veteran Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu was acquitted of treason on Friday but sentenced to four years in prison for inciting others to disrupt last year’s elections.

The 58-year-old Lissu had faced the death penalty on the treason charge.

His case mirrors others in Africa where opposition leaders and other critics have been charged with treason or similar offenses and have faced the death penalty. Many of the cases are attempts by leaders to silence or remove the opposition, according to rights groups.

Ugandan opposition figure Kizza Besigye was abducted in Kenya and brought back to his country to face allegations of plotting to overthrow its long-ruling president.