Lobby group demands probe into torture of Kenyan, Ugandan activists by Tanzania authorities

The Geneva-based Institute for Human Rights (IHR) has called for an immediate investigation into the abduction and torture of Kenyan civil rights activist Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan human rights defender Agather Atuhaire by Tanzanian authorities.

David Koros, the President of IHR, stated that President Samia Suluhu Hassan must be held accountable for these violations of human rights.

He urged the East African heads of state to uphold both local and international treaties concerning human rights.

Koros emphasised that the human rights records in East African countries have deteriorated recently and called on the international community to impose sanctions on those countries that fail to comply with human rights standards.

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“It is quite disturbing how Mwangi and Atuhaire were tortured and held incommunicado by security forces in Tanzania merely for entering the country to observe the trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu. Their abduction and torture represent serious violations of human rights,” said Koros.

Tundu Lissu was presented before the Kisutu Resident Magistrate's Court to face charges of treason and publishing false information.

Mwangi and Atuhaire were among several civil rights activists from Kenya and Uganda who travelled to Tanzania to monitor the trial.

Notably, former Kenyan Chief Justice Willy Mutunga and Senior Counsel Martha Karua, leader of the People's Liberation Party (PLP), were also deported from Tanzania while attempting to observe the court proceedings.

Koros has reached out to the African Union (AU) seeking action against President Suluhu for the illegal detention and torture of the two East African citizens.

He questioned the Tanzanian authorities' choice to detain Mwangi and Atuhaire while immediately deporting the other human rights observers who had arrived in the country for the trial.

“Why did it take the Tanzanian government more than four days to deport Mwangi and Atuhaire? If they had committed any offense, why weren’t they taken to court?” he asked.

Koros criticised the Kenyan government for not acting in good faith regarding Mwangi's illegal detention, claiming that President William Ruto’s administration has sabotaged the situation by providing misleading information to the public.

“The Kenyan government is also guilty. The foreign affairs department failed to act in good faith,” he stated.

He particularly called out Kenya Kwanza leaders, especially Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei, for issuing misleading statements about Mwangi's presence in Tanzania.

 “His statements were reckless and misleading, clearly indicating sabotage by President Ruto’s administration,” Koros said.

Koros pointed out that Tanzania is the only East African country yet to ratify the UN Convention Against Torture (UN CAT), although it prohibits torture in its constitution.

“It is no surprise that Tanzanian human rights defenders and journalists face severe human rights violations. This has also affected opposition politicians through arbitrary arrests, detention, extrajudicial killings, and enforced disappearances of party leaders and supporters across the country,” he claimed.

He accused President Suluhu of failing to meet her country's obligations under the Charter, particularly Article 55, which calls for promoting universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Koros urged civil society in East Africa to unite and protect citizens from state torture and human rights violations.

He also called on the donor community to support civil society groups rather than focusing solely on development projects, stating, “The incident in Tanzania is a clear indication of the need for more funding for advocacy and litigation, specifically in the East African region.”

Mwangi was dumped at the border of Kenya and Tanzania on Thursday, while Atuhaire was dumped at the border of Uganda and Tanzania on Friday morning.

The two appeared weak and in poor health, an indication that they were subjected to inhuman treatment by their captors.