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| 'I have been saved': Kidnapped Tanzanian activist found hours later | 'I have been saved': Kidnapped Tanzanian activist found hours later |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Maria Sarungi Tsehai has been a vocal critic of President Samia Suluhu Hassan | |
| Prominent Tanzanian activist Maria Sarungi Tsehai, who was abducted by armed men in Kenya, says she has been released, after several hours. | |
| Amnesty International Kenya spokesperson Roland Ebole told the BBC she was "forced" into a vehicle in Kenya's 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. | 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 | '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 it believed she had been 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, allegedly 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. | |
| 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. |
| Kenyan minister Justin Muturi hits out over abductions | |
| On Sunday, a serving minister whose son was abducted in June last year criticised the government over its handling of the matter. | |
| Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi said the abduction of his son - who was later released - remained unexplained, even though he was a senior member of the government. | |
| At the time, he was serving as the attorney-general. | |
| ''My son was personally abducted and disappeared making us anxious and at that time, I was the Attorney General of Kenya and a member of the National Security Council," he said at a press conference, adding that he had received not answers despite reaching out to the top security officials. | |
| A state-funded rights group saying that over 80 people were abducted in the last six months. The abductions started in the wake of deadly anti-tax protests last June and have continued against critics of the government. | |
| 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 |