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| Tanzanian activist Maria Sarungi Tsehai kidnapped in Kenya, found hours later | |
| (30 days later) | |
| Maria Sarungi Tsehai has been a vocal critic of President Samia Suluhu Hassan | Maria Sarungi Tsehai has been a vocal critic of President Samia Suluhu Hassan |
| Prominent Tanzanian activist Maria Sarungi Tsehai, who has said she was abducted by armed men in Kenya and released after several hours, has recounted her ordeal. | Prominent Tanzanian activist Maria Sarungi Tsehai, who has said she was abducted by armed men in Kenya and released after several hours, has recounted her ordeal. |
| On Monday, she told a press briefing, she was manhandled, choked and shouted at by four unknown assailants who forced her into a vehicle in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, on Sunday afternoon. | On Monday, she told a press briefing, she was manhandled, choked and shouted at by four unknown assailants who forced her into a vehicle in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, on Sunday afternoon. |
| "I am sure that the reason for abduction was to get access to my social media and [because of] the whistleblowing job that I do," she said, as her abductors kept asking how to unlock her phone. | "I am sure that the reason for abduction was to get access to my social media and [because of] the whistleblowing job that I do," she said, as her abductors kept asking how to unlock her phone. |
| 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. |
| She fled to neighbouring Kenya in 2020, seeking asylum after facing increasing threats coming from the government of late President John Magufuli. | She fled to neighbouring Kenya in 2020, seeking asylum after facing increasing threats coming from the government of late President John Magufuli. |
| Describing what happened on Sunday, the activist said she was freed and left on a "rough road, in a dark place". | Describing what happened on Sunday, the activist said she was freed and left on a "rough road, in a dark place". |
| She then walked to a main road and approached people for help. | She then walked to a main road and approached people for help. |
| Ms Tsehai said she was able to contact her husband on a laptop and then ordered a taxi home. | Ms Tsehai said she was able to contact her husband on a laptop and then ordered a taxi home. |
| She blamed the Tanzanian government for what happened but said she thought the abductors were both Kenyan and Tanzanian. | She blamed the Tanzanian government for what happened but said she thought the abductors were both Kenyan and Tanzanian. |
| Officials from neither government have commented on the incident. | Officials from neither government have commented on the incident. |
| 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 |
| Upon her release on Sunday, she shared a video to her 1.3 million followers on X, appearing visibly shaken and emotional, but said: "I have been saved." | Upon her release on Sunday, she shared a video to her 1.3 million followers on X, appearing visibly shaken and emotional, but said: "I have been saved." |
| Roland Ebole, spokesperson for Amnesty International Kenya, told the BBC that Ms Tsehai's abduction set a "very dangerous precedent". | Roland Ebole, spokesperson for Amnesty International Kenya, told the BBC that Ms Tsehai's abduction set a "very dangerous precedent". |
| The Law Society of Kenya president, Faith Odhiambo, said on X: "We will not allow our country to be used as a haven for picking up individuals," she said at an evening press conference. | The Law Society of Kenya president, Faith Odhiambo, said on X: "We will not allow our country to be used as a haven for picking up individuals," she said at an evening press conference. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| The Tanzanian activist said the assailants choked her during her ordeal | The Tanzanian activist said the assailants choked her during her ordeal |
| 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". | 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. | 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. | 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 | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | ''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 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 |
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