Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan journalist Agather Atuhaire have alleged that Tanzanian security officers sexually assaulted them during their recent detention in Dar es Salaam. The activists were arrested last month upon arrival in Tanzania to attend the court hearing of opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who faces treason charges.
At a press conference in Nairobi, Mwangi broke down while recounting how officers blindfolded and stripped him before carrying out the assault. “They took photos of me while doing it,” he said. Atuhaire also described being tied, blindfolded, and violated. Their claims have drawn renewed attention to alleged state repression under President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
No Official Response Yet
So far, Tanzanian authorities have remained silent. Government spokespersons, police, and the foreign affairs ministry have not responded to media inquiries. Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Uganda’s information minister also failed to provide any official comment.
The activists said they were eventually dumped near their respective country borders after days in detention. Their abduction followed President Hassan’s public warning to foreign activists against “interfering in our affairs.”
Kenya Activist Says He Was Sexually Assaulted in Tanzania Amid Political Tensions
The case has intensified scrutiny on the Tanzanian government, which has been accused of backsliding on human rights. President Hassan initially won praise for relaxing political restrictions when she assumed power in 2021, but opposition figures say her government is now engaging in the same tactics of suppression as her predecessor.
Tundu Lissu, the opposition politician Mwangi and Atuhaire had come to support, is facing treason charges over a speech the government claims incited rebellion. His arrest and the alleged mistreatment of foreign activists point to growing authoritarian tendencies just months ahead of Tanzania’s October election.
Kenya Activist Says He Was Sexually Assaulted in Tanzania
The disturbing testimony of Boniface Mwangi and Agather Atuhaire has raised serious questions about the treatment of activists in Tanzania and the broader state of political freedoms in East Africa. The fact that a Kenya activist says he was sexually assaulted in Tanzania not only exposes personal trauma but also reflects a regional challenge to democracy, rule of law, and accountability.
