Activist Freed In Tanzania After Kenyan Government Demand

Kenyan authorities announced on Thursday that Tanzania has freed a Kenyan activist arrested for attempting to attend a court hearing in the treason case of a detained opposition leader in Dar es Salaam.

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) confirmed that Boniface Mwangi was received in Kenya’s southeastern Kwale County on Thursday afternoon. Kenya’s foreign minister, Musalia Mudavadi, also verified Mwangi’s release.

Mwangi had sought to observe the initial court appearance of opposition leader Tundu Lissu on Monday, in a case highlighting an increasing clampdown on critics of President Samia Suluhu Hassan.

In April, Lissu, who survived a 2017 assassination attempt with 16 gunshot wounds and placed second in Tanzania’s last presidential election, faced treason charges for allegedly delivering a speech inciting the public to rebel and disrupt the upcoming October elections.

An advocacy group reported that Mwangi was detained on suspicion of providing false information to enter Tanzania.

“(Mwangi) is in high spirits. The Commission and other partners are making arrangements to transfer him to Nairobi for medical attention,” KNCHR stated on X, posting a photo of Mwangi with rights activist Hussein Khalid.

Hussein Khalid reported that Mwangi endured severe torture by Tanzanian security agents and was barely able to walk: “His body is broken but his spirit remains strong.”

Paul Mselle, the chief spokesperson for Tanzania’s Immigration Services Department, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the allegations of torture.

It remains unclear whether Ugandan lawyer and activist Agather Atuhaire, detained alongside Mwangi, has also been released.

President Hassan, who is running for re-election in October, has stated that Tanzania’s government is dedicated to upholding human rights despite several high-profile arrests of political adversaries.

However, in public statements on Monday, she cautioned foreign activists against “invading and interfering in our affairs”.