Tanzanian Activist Maria Sarungi Tsehai Kidnapped in Kenya, Later Rescued

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Maria Sarungi Tsehai, a prominent Tanzanian activist and critic of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, was reportedly abducted by armed men in Nairobi, Kenya on Sunday afternoon. According to Amnesty International Kenya, Tsehai was forcibly taken into a vehicle but was released just hours later. In a video shared with her 1.3 million followers on X, she expressed relief, stating, "I have been saved," although she appeared visibly shaken and emotional.

Tsehai, known for her advocacy on land rights and freedom of expression, has been vocal against the Tanzanian government, accusing it of rekindling "tyranny." Faith Odhiambo, president of the Law Society of Kenya, confirmed that they were involved in arranging her release and emphasized that Kenya would not tolerate being a haven for such abductions.

Concerns have arisen regarding Tanzania's political climate, with allegations of increasing repression similar to that seen during the presidency of the late John Magufuli. The government has seen a surge in arrests of opposition members, with serious human rights violations reported. A movement founded by Tsehai, Change Tanzania, suggested that her abduction may have involved Tanzanian security agents acting outside their borders to silence dissent.

This incident is not an isolated case; Kenya has been criticized for allowing foreign governments to conduct abductions, a violation of international law. Past incidents include the abduction of Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye in Nairobi, raising fears that Tsehai's case could be a recurrence of similar actions.

Amid these developments, Kenya has been facing its own issues with disappearances, particularly linked to protests against tax hikes, prompting demands for action to protect human rights in the region.

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