The United States has called for a swift and thorough investigation into the alleged abduction and torture of two East African activists Uganda’s Agather Atuhaire and Kenya’s Boniface Mwangi while in detention in Tanzania. The call, issued through the U.S. Bureau of African Affairs, underscores mounting international concern over human rights practices in the East African nation.
In a statement released this week, the U.S. expressed deep concern over the treatment of the activists, who were in Tanzania to support opposition leader Tundu Lissu, currently facing treason charges. “The United States is deeply concerned by reports of the mistreatment in Tanzania of two East African activists,” read the statement. It urged Tanzanian authorities to conduct a full investigation and ensure accountability for any violations.
Atuhaire, a recipient of the 2024 International Women of Courage Award from the U.S. State Department, recounted a harrowing ordeal. She said she was accosted by five men and a woman, forced into a vehicle, blindfolded, and transported to an undisclosed location. “I almost sat on guns… I thought it was over,” she recalled.
Mwangi, a renowned Kenyan human rights defender, was later found abandoned near the Kenyan border. He stated that he had heard Atuhaire “groaning in pain” while they were held together on Tuesday. The two were reportedly subjected to harsh conditions, including beatings and intimidation.
Despite growing outcry, Tanzanian authorities have remained silent on the allegations. President Samia Suluhu Hassan, however, issued a warning on Monday, declaring that her government would not allow activists from neighboring countries to “meddle” in Tanzania’s internal affairs or “cause chaos.”
The U.S. has also called on regional governments to adhere to international human rights standards. “We urge all countries in the region to hold to account those responsible for violating human rights, including torture,” the statement added.
The incident has sparked renewed calls for stronger protections for human rights defenders across East Africa and heightened scrutiny of Tanzania’s approach to political dissent and civil liberties.
