On June 10, 2025, the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) and Lawyers for Lawyers condemned the arbitrary detention and reported torture of Ugandan lawyer Agather Atuhaire and Kenyan activist-journalist Boniface Mwangi by Tanzanian authorities. The two were arrested in Dar es Salaam while observing the treason trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu. Although authorities promised deportation, both were held incommunicado, denied legal counsel, and allegedly tortured before their eventual release at national borders.
These actions violate Tanzanian constitutional protections, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and several UN legal standards, including the Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers. The organizations also denounced a broader pattern of repression across East Africa, citing recent arrests of other legal professionals and activists.
The IBAHRI calls on Tanzanian authorities to investigate the incidents, provide medical care to the victims, and cease targeting human rights defenders. It also urges international bodies to monitor the region and support the rule of law.