Tanzanian Activist Rescued After Hours of Captivity: ‘I Have Been Saved’

Prominent Tanzanian activist Maria Sarungi Tsehai, who was abducted by armed men in Kenya, has been released just hours after the incident. Tsehai, a strong critic of Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, was forcibly taken into a vehicle in Nairobi on Sunday afternoon. Amnesty International Kenya spokesperson Roland Ebole confirmed the abduction to the BBC, but the activist was freed later that day.

In a video shared with her 1.3 million followers on X, a visibly shaken and emotional Tsehai expressed her relief, saying, “I have been saved.” Her release came after efforts from the Law Society of Kenya, led by president Faith Odhiambo, who said they had arranged for her freedom. Odhiambo emphasized the importance of protecting individuals from being abducted in Kenya, stating, “We are sending a warning. We will not allow our country to be used as a haven for picking up individuals.”

Despite her release, neither Kenyan nor Tanzanian officials have commented on the situation. Tsehai, an outspoken advocate for land rights and freedom of expression in Tanzania, has previously accused President Hassan’s government of resurrecting “tyranny” in the country.

The incident has raised concerns over the potential return to the repressive rule of late President John Magufuli, despite Hassan’s promises to restore competitive politics and lift bans on opposition gatherings. Tsehai’s advocacy and her abduction highlight the ongoing tensions in Tanzania regarding political freedoms and human rights.

Last year, Tanzania witnessed a disturbing rise in the arrests and brutal killings of opposition figures, with one senior opposition leader tragically dying after being doused in acid. Human Rights Watch condemned this escalation, calling it a “bad sign” for the upcoming 2025 presidential elections scheduled for October.

Maria Sarungi Tsehai, a fierce critic of the Tanzanian government and founder of the Change Tanzania movement, was abducted in Nairobi by what her supporters believe were Tanzanian security agents operating beyond the country’s borders. They accused the agents of attempting to silence legitimate government criticism. In a statement shared on X, Change Tanzania expressed concern over Tsehai’s abduction, stating that her “courage in standing up for justice has made her a target.”

Tsehai herself had recently voiced concerns about her safety, including an incident where two unidentified men were reportedly seen searching for her at her home while she was away. The abduction has raised alarm among human rights groups, as Kenya has been criticized for allowing foreign governments to abduct citizens for extradition, a violation of international law.

In a similar case, Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye was kidnapped in Nairobi by Ugandan security officials last year and taken across the border for trial by a court martial. The Ugandan government claimed Kenya assisted in the operation, though the Kenyan government denied involvement.

Amnesty International’s Roland Ebole warned that Tsehai’s abduction could be a “repeat” of the Besigye case. The issue of disappearances has also become a growing concern in Kenya, where a state-funded rights group reported over 80 abductions in the past six months. Many of these victims were taken during the youth-led protests against planned tax rises last year, and there have been increasing calls for their release.

Tsehai’s abduction, along with the ongoing wave of disappearances in Kenya, highlights the ongoing challenges faced by activists and political opposition in East Africa, raising serious questions about the protection of human rights in the region.

Courtesy: SABC News

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