Samia Suluhu brags about Tanzania’s crackdown on human rights activists
By Luke Oluoch, September 21, 2025Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu has defended the nation’s stance on cracking down on foreign human rights activists, who were detained and deported during the trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu in June 2025.
Speaking on Saturday, September 20, 2025, Suluhu endorsed the brutality meted out against the activists as a necessary measure to protect peace and sovereignty.
“In the five years, we have tried to be on top of our political stability and peace in the country. We have not had issues apart from accidents and people who tried to provoke others or disrupt peace.
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She specifically referenced the state-orchestrated crackdown on activists from other countries that sparked widespread condemnation across the East African Community.
“Even those who crossed our borders and tried to disrupt our peace, we dealt with them, and they have not tried to come back,” she stated.
Suluhu urged Tanzanians to observe peace as the country heads to the polls in October 2025 and refrain from being easily provoked.
Be peaceful
She implored the nation to emulate her example, stressing that she had come under intense provocation but chose to remain peaceful.
“I want to plead with you not to be easily provoked. In this period of elections, you will come under intense provocation, but be like me. I have been provoked but chose to remain peaceful. I ask you not to be provoked. It is costly; let us not endanger our peace because of elections,” she implored.
Her sentiments follow after Boniface Mwangi publicly recounted the harrowing tale of detention, torture, and sexual violence that was inflicted on him by Tanzanian security agents in Dar es Salaam.
Speaking during a press briefing in Nairobi on June 1, 2025, Mwangi gave a detailed and graphic account of the physical and psychological abuse he and Ugandan journalist and activist Agather Atuhaire endured during what began as a routine trip to Tanzania.
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According to the activist, he was subjected to beatings and threats of sexual violence while being handcuffed and blindfolded.
The activist’s week-long ordeal came to an end when he was later dumped on the side of a road near the Horo-Horo border and given just enough cash for bus fare back into Kenya.