Tanzanian authorities have arrested Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan lawyer Agather Atuhaire in Dar es Salaam. The two had traveled to observe the treason trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who is facing charges for allegedly inciting rebellion ahead of the October general elections. Mwangi was accused of providing false information to gain entry into the country, while the reasons for Atuhaire’s detention remain unclear. Both are currently held at the central police station in Dar es Salaam .
This incident is part of a broader pattern of actions against foreign activists and opposition supporters. Over the weekend, several Kenyan human rights activists, including former Justice Minister Martha Karua and former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, were denied entry into Tanzania while attempting to attend Lissu’s court hearing . President Samia Suluhu Hassan has warned foreign activists against interfering in Tanzania’s internal affairs, stating that such actions will not be tolerated .
Tundu Lissu, a prominent figure in Tanzania’s opposition party CHADEMA, was arrested on April 9 after calling for electoral reforms. He faces treason charges, which carry the death penalty. Lissu has previously survived an assassination attempt in 2017 and has been a vocal critic of the ruling party’s dominance in the electoral process .
The Tanzanian government’s recent actions have raised concerns among international human rights organizations about the suppression of political dissent and the erosion of democratic freedoms in the country.
