Tanzanian authorities must investigate the arbitrary arrest, torture, incommunicado detention, and forcible deportation of human rights defenders Agather Atuhaire and Boniface Mwangi, Amnesty International said today.

Agather Atuhaire, from Uganda, and Kenyan national Boniface Mwangi arrived in Tanzania on 18 May as part of a delegation to observe the trial of jailed opposition politician Tundu Lissu. After being arrested by immigration and police officers at the Serena Hotel in Dar es Salaam on 19 May, the two were driven to an unknown location, where they were held incommunicado and allegedly beaten, tortured and stripped naked by people believed to be members of the Tanzanian military.

“For four days, these two human rights defenders were subjected to unimaginable cruelty. Their ordeal highlights the dangers faced by human rights defenders in Tanzania and there must be accountability and justice. Amnesty International demands effective investigations be opened immediately,” said Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa.

For four days, these two human rights defenders were subjected to unimaginable cruelty. Their ordeal highlights the dangers faced by human rights defenders in Tanzania and there must be accountability and justice. Amnesty International demands effective investigations be opened immediately

Tigere Chagutah, Regional Director, Amnesty International, East and Southern Africa

Amnesty International is concerned by remarks made by President Samia Suluhu Hassan following the pair’s arrest, calling for a crackdown on human rights defenders who come into Tanzania, labelling them “foreign agents”.  Such statements provide state authorities with an unlawful and spurious pretext to impose restrictions flouting international human rights obligations.

“Trial observation is central to the transparency of court processes and guarantees of fair trials and is not a threat to security. President Suluhu’s remarks and actions by authorities in Tanzania sends a chilling message aimed at further stifling freedom of expression and association,” said Tigere Chagutah.

Amnesty International has reported the intensification of a vicious clampdown on peaceful dissent in recent years as the country heads towards presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled for October 2025.

Agather Atuhire and Boniface Mwangi’s release and deportation followed pressure from Kenyans and Ugandans, civil society organizations and intervention from the foreign affairs ministries of the two countries.

Trial observation is central to the transparency of court processes and guarantees of fair trials and is not a threat to security. President Suluhu’s remarks and actions by authorities in Tanzania sends a chilling message aimed at further stifling freedom of expression and association

Tigere Chagutah

Boniface Mwangi was found abandoned at a border post between Kenya and Tanzania on 22 May while Agather Athuire was left at the border between Tanzania and Uganda on 23 May. They were both separately driven to the posts and dumped. They appeared severely beaten.

“Tanzanian authorities must ensure and respect the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly and end the repression against human rights defenders and non-governmental organizations. They must publicly recognize the critical role played by civil society, human rights defenders and independent media in protecting human rights and ensuring accountability,” said Tigere Chagutah.

Background

Tundu Lissu is charged with the capital and non-bailable offence of treason, alongside two other offences under the country’s cybercrime laws for social media posts calling for Tanzanians to boycott the forthcoming elections, citing the possibility of rigging.

Tundu Lissu had previously refused to appear at a hearing on 24 April after the state, on that morning, changed it from an in-person to an online hearing. On that day, Tanzanian police beat up more than 50 of Tundu Lissu’s supporters who were attempting to gain access to the court. Twenty-three were arbitrarily arrested and beaten by police who later dumped them in a forest in Bagamoyo, north of Tanzania.  They suffered cuts and bruises on various parts of their bodies, including head, hands legs, back and shoulders. A woman and a man reported to Amnesty International that they had been sexually assaulted by the police.

On 2 May, armed men, who identified themselves as police officers, badly beat up and arrested political activist and human rights defender, Mdude Nyagali, at his house in Mbeya town, southern Tanzania. According to eyewitnesses, the men did not produce an arrest warrant or provide a reason for the arrest. Mdude Nyagali has been missing since the incident. The state has denied holding him. Amnesty International