This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd7dxz48e01o
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| 'I have been saved': Kidnapped Tanzanian activist found hours later | 'I have been saved': Kidnapped Tanzanian activist found hours later |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| Maria Sarungi Tsehai has been a vocal critic against President Samia Suluhu Hassan | Maria Sarungi Tsehai has been a vocal critic against President Samia Suluhu Hassan |
| Prominent Tanzanian activist Maria Sarungi Tsehai who was abducted by armed men in Kenya said she has been released, hours after the incident. | Prominent Tanzanian activist Maria Sarungi Tsehai who was abducted by armed men in Kenya said she has been released, hours after the incident. |
| Amnesty International Kenya spokesperson Roland Ebole told the BBC she was "forced" into a vehicle in the capital Nairobi on Sunday afternoon. | Amnesty International Kenya spokesperson Roland Ebole told the BBC she was "forced" into a vehicle in the capital Nairobi on Sunday afternoon. |
| But Ms Tsehai was released hours later. She shared a video to her 1.3 million followers on X, appearing visibly shaken and emotional, but said: "I have been saved." | But Ms Tsehai was released hours later. She shared a video to her 1.3 million followers on X, appearing visibly shaken and emotional, but said: "I have been saved." |
| Ms Tsehai is a staunch critic of Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan, and has accused her government of bringing "tyranny back" to the country. | Ms Tsehai is a staunch critic of Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan, and has accused her government of bringing "tyranny back" to the country. |
| The Law Society of Kenya president, Faith Odhiambo, said on X they had managed to arrange her release. | The Law Society of Kenya president, Faith Odhiambo, said on X they had managed to arrange her release. |
| "We are sending a warning. We will not allow our country to be used as a haven for picking up individuals," she said at an evening press conference. | "We are sending a warning. We will not allow our country to be used as a haven for picking up individuals," she said at an evening press conference. |
| Neither Kenyan nor Tanzanian officials have commented. | Neither Kenyan nor Tanzanian officials have commented. |
| Ms Tsehai is a fierce advocate for land rights and freedom of expression in Tanzania. | Ms Tsehai is a fierce advocate for land rights and freedom of expression in Tanzania. |
| There have been concerns that Tanzania could be returning to the repressive rule of late President John Magufuli, despite his successor Samia lifting a ban on opposition gatherings and promising to restore competitive politics. | |
| Why Samia's hesitant reforms are fuelling Tanzanian political anger | Why Samia's hesitant reforms are fuelling Tanzanian political anger |
| 'We live in fear' - forced expulsions taint Kenya's safe haven image | |
| Last year, dozens of opposition were arrested and some were brutally killed. One senior opposition leader died after being doused in acid. | Last year, dozens of opposition were arrested and some were brutally killed. One senior opposition leader died after being doused in acid. |
| Human Rights Watch described the rise in arrests of opposition activists as a "bad sign" ahead of the 2025 presidential elections, which will take place in October. | Human Rights Watch described the rise in arrests of opposition activists as a "bad sign" ahead of the 2025 presidential elections, which will take place in October. |
| Change Tanzania, a movement founded by Ms Tsehai, said in a statement on X they believed she was taken by Tanzanian security agents "operating beyond Tanzania borders to silence government legitimate criticism." | Change Tanzania, a movement founded by Ms Tsehai, said in a statement on X they believed she was taken by Tanzanian security agents "operating beyond Tanzania borders to silence government legitimate criticism." |
| It added that her "courage in standing up for justice has made her a target". | It added that her "courage in standing up for justice has made her a target". |
| In recent months, she had expressed concerns about her safety, reporting an incident where two unidentified men were seen looking for her at her home while she was away. | In recent months, she had expressed concerns about her safety, reporting an incident where two unidentified men were seen looking for her at her home while she was away. |
| Kenya has a history of enabling foreign governments to abduct its citizens and carry out forcible extraditions, breaching international law. | Kenya has a history of enabling foreign governments to abduct its citizens and carry out forcible extraditions, breaching international law. |
| Last year, Ugandan opposition leader, Kizza Besigye, was kidnapped in Nairobi by Ugandan security officials and taken across the border for trial by a court martial. | Last year, Ugandan opposition leader, Kizza Besigye, was kidnapped in Nairobi by Ugandan security officials and taken across the border for trial by a court martial. |
| The Ugandan government said Kenya helped them in the operation - but the Kenyan government denied this. | The Ugandan government said Kenya helped them in the operation - but the Kenyan government denied this. |
| Mr Ebole told the BBC "it might be another repeat" of Mr Besigye's situation. | Mr Ebole told the BBC "it might be another repeat" of Mr Besigye's situation. |
| Internally, Kenya has been gripped by a wave of disappearances, following last year's youth-led protests against a series of planned tax rises. | Internally, Kenya has been gripped by a wave of disappearances, following last year's youth-led protests against a series of planned tax rises. |
| A state-funded rights group saying that over 80 people have been abducted in the last six months. | A state-funded rights group saying that over 80 people have been abducted in the last six months. |
| A few have been released in recent weeks, and there are growing calls for all who have been abducted to be freed. | A few have been released in recent weeks, and there are growing calls for all who have been abducted to be freed. |
| You may also be interested in: | You may also be interested in: |
| How a Ugandan opposition leader disappeared in Kenya and ended up in military court | How a Ugandan opposition leader disappeared in Kenya and ended up in military court |
| Ruto's humbling shows power of African youth | Ruto's humbling shows power of African youth |
| 'I can't sleep': What an athlete's murder tells us about women's safety in Kenya | 'I can't sleep': What an athlete's murder tells us about women's safety in Kenya |
| Go to BBCAfrica.com, external for more news from the African continent. | Go to BBCAfrica.com, external for more news from the African continent. |
| Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, external, on Facebook at BBC Africa, external or on Instagram at bbcafrica, external | Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, external, on Facebook at BBC Africa, external or on Instagram at bbcafrica, external |