DAR ES SALAAM, TANANIA — Despite growing condemnation following the deportation and alleged mistreatment of Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has remained resolute in her stance.
Speaking on Saturday, May 24, 2025, during a brief swearing-in ceremony at the State House in Dar es Salaam, President Suluhu adopted a firm tone, suggesting that foreign activists were primarily intent on disrupting Tanzania’s long-standing peace.
Appearing to justify the decision to deport the activists, President Suluhu cautioned that if the Tanzanian government failed to act, “foreign activists” would infiltrate their ministries and other state institutions.
In a rallying cry to the nation, President Suluhu urged all Tanzanian citizens to defend their country. “Kwa sababu ya uzuri na madhubutu ya taifa letu, mnaona yanayotokea leo kwamba watu kutoka kwingine wanataka kuja kuvuruga uku ndani,” Suluhu stated.
“Sasa kazi ya kulinda hio si yangu pekee yangu wala sio vyombo vya ulinzi na usalama pekee yako, ni sote kwa sababu wakikosa uku watapita mawizara, mashirika yetu, watataka kuingia uku kuvuruga. Kwa hivyo muilinde taifa lenu. Hii ndio raslimali tuliachiwa hatuna nyengine. Kwa hivyo, endeni mkailindeni,” she insisted.
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This translates to: “Because of the goodness and steadiness of our country, you are witnessing what is happening that people from elsewhere want to come here to disarrange,” Suluhu stated.
“Now the work of protecting the nation is not mine alone, nor is it reserved only to our security organs, it is our collective responsibility because if we do not do that they will infiltrate our ministries, our agencies, and they will want to come in and disrupt everything. Now, protect your country. This is the only resource left for us, so go and guard our nation,” she insisted.
US seeks answers
President Suluhu’s remarks came hours after the US Bureau of African Affairs, under the Department of State, issued a strong message regarding the treatment of Boniface Mwangi and Agather Atuhaire, expressing concern over their alleged mistreatment by Tanzanian authorities.
“The United States is deeply concerned by reports of the mistreatment in Tanzania of the two East African activists,” the bureau stated. “We call for an immediate and full investigation into the allegations of human rights abuses. We urge all countries in the region to hold to account those responsible for violating human rights, including torture,” the post conveyed.
Deportation details
Agather Atuhaire was left near the Mutukula border crossing between Uganda and Tanzania after being unaccounted for several days. Conversely, Boniface Mwangi was dumped in Ukunda, a coastal area near the Kenya-Tanzania border.
Prior to his discovery, the Kenyan government had issued a formal diplomatic note (démarche) indicating Tanzania’s lack of cooperation in disclosing his whereabouts.
In a separate statement on Friday, May 23, 2025, Kenyan Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi suggested that the issue had been “resolved amicably,” despite both Boniface Mwangi and Agather Atuhaire reporting that they were tortured and assaulted in Tanzania.
