President Samia Suluhu Hassan yesterday issued a stern warning to foreign activists, whom she claims are attempting to interfere in Tanzania’s internal affairs, saying that if the activists have been curtailed in their own countries, they should not seek to destabilise their peace.

“If they’ve been restrained in their own countries, they must not come here to cause disruption. This country remains one of the few undisturbed, and we must not allow ill-mannered individuals from other nations to sow discord here,” said President Suluhu during the launch of the new Foreign Policy at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre.

Former Kenyan Chief Justice Dr. Willy Mutunga, who was in the company of human rights activists Hanifa Adan and Hussein Khalid, were the latest to rub Tanzanian authorities the wrong way after trying to gain entry into the country hours before hearing of Opposition leader Tundu Lissu’s case started. The trio were detained at Julius Nyerere International Airport before being deported to Kenya.

On Sunday, People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua with human rights defenders and lawyers Lynn Ngugi and Gloria Kimani underwent a similar ordeal as the authorities moved in to block them from showing solidarity with Lissu.

However, Mutunga’s successor, David Maraga, with his entourage, were allowed to meet Lissu in court where they shook hands and held a brief talk. Maraga expressed his joy at meeting Lissu, who was in high spirits.

“As a fellow member of Jumuiya, I hold firm in the hope that the legal process ahead will be fair, just, and expeditious—reflecting the highest standards of integrity, independence and respect for human dignity,” Maraga posted on X.

Kenyan authorities have given contradicting statements over the issue. While the Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei took to social media to demand their release, Government Spokesman Isaac Mwaura downplayed a possible diplomatic tiff adding that Tanzania has the discretion of choosing who enters the country.

“We strongly urge the authorities in Tanzania to release the former Chief Justice of Kenya and his delegation consistent with the norms of the East African Community,” Sing’oei wrote on his X account.

Security precautions

Mwaura on the other hand insisted that any country can deny an individual the right of entry into its territory if they pose a security threat, even if there exists freedom of movement between the country of origin and the destination country.

“We enjoy free movement of goods and people within the region, and we even have an e-visa (ETA) system in place. But that doesn’t mean we ignore national security precautions,” Mwaura said, adding that if a government feels it has information against an individual, whether they are in government or in the opposition, it has the right to act accordingly.

While Mutunga, Karua and four others were deported, another Kenyan human rights activist, Boniface Mwangi had a long night on Sunday after Tanzanian police confronted and attempted to eject him from a hotel in Dar es Salaam. Mwangi alleged that police in plainclothes came to his room at midnight and ordered him to get out, but he declined after they refused to identify themselves.

After he defied their orders, Mwangi said the invaders went to the lobby as he vowed not to leave the hotel room until lawyers came to his rescue.

“I’m scared for my life because there are a lot of abductions in this country, a lot of executions in this country, and people are in jail for refusing … dictatorship, that’s why I can’t open the door,” he added.

In Mombasa, civil society organisations on Monday staged a peaceful protest outside the Tanzanian Consulate in Kizingo, condemning what they described as the illegal arrest and detention of Kenyan citizens in Tanzania.

The demonstrators gathered at Treasury Square, outside the County Assembly offices, and marched through the Mombasa Law Courts, before arriving at the consulate. Upon arrival, they sang the East African Community anthem before launching into spirited chants demanding the release of the detained Kenyans.

The activists addressed the consulate in Swahili, adopting a Tanzanian dialect as they pleaded for dialogue with consular officials—though no one from the consulate responded.

Led by Francis Auma, the Muslims of Human Rights (Muhuri) rapid response officer, the activists condemned the detention of the four Kenyans in the neighbouring country.

The protest ended without incident, though the activists vowed to continue their push for the release of the detained Kenyans and for reforms in Tanzania’s treatment of foreign nationals.

Meanwhile, Lissu who is also the Chadema party chairman appeared before Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court is a court in Dar es Salaam, to answer to charges of treason and publishing false information online.

He arrived in court under heavy security, cracking jokes, smiling and waving at his party members and supporters in the courtroom as he assured them that he would overcome his tribulations.

“You are doing a good job, I congratulate the residents of Dar-es-Salam. Tutakuwa sawa sawa (We will be fine),” he told Chadema party officials

Lissu condemned the deportation of Kenyan delegation that had gone to show their solidarity with him during the court hearing. Lissu was arrested on April 9, 2025, over his “no reforms, no election” campaign urging his supporters to resist the October general elections, unless reforms are made on the electoral system.

The Chadema leader declined to attend a virtual court hearing that was to happen on April 24, where, in yesterday’s hearing, the case was adjourned to June 2.