Tanzanian police have detained Kenyan human rights activist Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan lawyer Agather Atuhaire, who had traveled to Tanzania to attend the treason trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu. The arrests were confirmed by an advocacy group, which stated that the two activists were present for Lissu’s court appearance on Monday.
Mwangi and Atuhaire were at the hearing to observe the proceedings against Lissu, a prominent critic of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, amid rising concerns about a crackdown on government opponents. Lissu, who survived an assassination attempt in 2017, faces charges of treason for allegedly calling for rebellion and election disruption.
The chief spokesperson for Tanzania’s Immigration Services, Paul Mselle, said he was unaware of the arrests but would investigate the matter. Both government and police officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition (THRDC) reported that the activists are being held at Dar es Salaam’s central police station. Mwangi has been accused of entering the country under false pretenses, though the basis for Atuhaire’s detention remains unclear. Mwangi, known for leading anti-government protests in Kenya last year, shared on social media that he was approached by men identifying as police officers and was detained after waiting for his lawyers.
Other Kenyan activists who traveled to Tanzania to support Lissu’s case, including a former justice minister, reported being denied entry into the country.
President Hassan, who is seeking re-election in October, recently pledged to uphold human rights but warned foreign activists against interfering in Tanzania’s domestic matters. The crackdown comes amid a broader political context, with Lissu’s party, CHADEMA, demanding electoral reforms before participating in the upcoming elections. Lissu entered the courtroom Monday raising his fist as supporters chanted, “No Reforms, No Election.”
