Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: Authorities in Tanzania Tuesday deported Ugandan lawyer Agather Atuhaire and Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi after they travelled to Dar es Salaam to attend a court session for detained opposition figure Tundu Lissu, rights groups have confirmed.
The duo had gone to observe Lissu’s first appearance in a treason case that critics say marks an intensifying crackdown on dissent ahead of Tanzania’s general elections slated for October.
Boniface Mwabukusi, President of the Tanzania Law Society, confirmed the deportations via his official X (formerly Twitter) account, stating that both individuals were repatriated under the escort of immigration officers.
“Both individuals have been repatriated under the escort and supervision of officers from the Tanzania Immigration Services Department,” he stated.
The Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition (THRDC) reported that Mwangi and Atuhaire were detained at the Dar es Salaam Central Police Station on Monday. The former was allegedly arrested for providing false information to gain entry into the country, but it remained unclear under what charges the latter was held.
Tanzanian immigration spokesperson, Mr Paul Mselle, said he was unaware of the arrests but promised to look into the matter. Government and police officials did not respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.
Mwangi, a prominent Kenyan human rights activist, posted on X that unidentified men claiming to be police officers had arrived at his hotel room and that he was willing to cooperate once his legal team arrived.
Other Kenyan activists, including a former justice minister, said they were denied entry into Tanzania as they attempted to show solidarity with Lissu at the hearing.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who is seeking re-election later this year, stated on Monday that her administration respects human rights — but warned foreign activists against what she termed “interference.”
“Our affairs must be handled by our people. Those who invade to interfere will not be tolerated,” she said.
Tundu Lissu, who survived an assassination attempt in 2017 and later contested the 2020 presidential election, was charged with treason in April after allegedly calling for public defiance and disruption of the October elections. His court case was adjourned to June 2.
Lissu’s CHADEMA party has demanded reforms to the electoral system, claiming it overwhelmingly favours the ruling party, and has threatened to boycott the election if changes are not made.
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