Thursday, May 22, 2025 - Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has raised concern over the continued detention of activist Boniface Mwangi by Tanzanian authorities.
Mwangi, who travelled to Tanzania to observe opposition
leader Tundu Lissu’s treason trial, was reportedly arrested by suspected
military officers on Monday, May 18th in Dar es Salaam and his
current whereabouts remain unknown.
“Despite several requests, officials of the Government of
Kenya have been denied consular access and information to Mr Mwangi,” the Ministry
said in a statement.
In the same breath, the Ministry urged Tanzania to
facilitate access or release him immediately in line with the Vienna Convention
on Consular Relations.
Mwangi’s wife, journalist Njeri Mwangi, said she last spoke
to him on Monday.
She added that Tanzanian authorities claim to have deported
him but have provided no official confirmation.
“Give us back Boniface, wounded or dead. It has been
agonising for my family,” she said.
On Tuesday, Tanzanian police reportedly told a local rights
group that Mwangi and Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire had been deported.
However, Amnesty International stated the two were being
held incommunicado by the military.
Mwangi was among several East African activists who
travelled to support Lissu.
Most were denied entry at Julius Nyerere International
Airport, detained, and later deported.
Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu on Monday, May 18th,
warned against foreign activists "interfering" in the country's
internal affairs, saying such individuals "will not be allowed to cross
the line."
The Kenyan DAILY POST
0 Comments