Activists to sue Tanzania gov’t over ‘sexual torture’ claims.

Two east African activists state their intention to file legal action against Tanzania's government, alleging illegal detention and torture occurred during a visit aimed at supporting an opposition figure in May.

Earlier this month, Boniface Mwangi from Kenya and Agather Atuhaire from Uganda brought significant attention to the region. In an emotional press conference, they detailed claims of sexual assault and, specifically in Atuhaire's case, being smeared with excrement during their detention in Dar es Salaam. Mwangi noted the treatment allegedly involved sexual torture at the hands of officials.

In a context where rights abuses are tragically common, the apparent targeting of foreign nationals by Tanzanian authorities presents a disturbing new development in the government's crackdown against critics and opponents of President Samia Suluhu Hassan.

In interviews, Mwangi and Atuhaire announced plans to pursue legal remedies. They intend to bring cases both within Tanzania and through regional and international bodies, including the East African Court of Justice and the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights.

“The Tanzanian government cannot get away with this,” stated Mwangi, a prominent Kenyan photojournalist and activist. Atuhaire, a lawyer, journalist, and critic of the Ugandan government, added: “It is crucial we hold them responsible to understand that such violations cannot occur without consequences.”

Mwangi and Atuhaire were in Tanzania on May 19th, attending a court hearing for opposition politician Tundu Lissu's treason case. According to the activists, they were forcibly taken from a hotel by individuals identifying themselves as security personnel. They reported being held illegally and subjected to verbal and physical abuse.

Mwangi described being assaulted at an immigration office by security officials, followed by another incident at a police station where personnel accused them of intending to disrupt Tanzanian peace.

“The most severe treatment happened that night,” Mwangi explained. A group of men, described as having bloodshot eyes and smelling of alcohol, alongside a woman, handcuffed and blindfolded him and Atuhaire and transported them to a secluded compound.

Both activists reported being ordered to undress at the compound. They alleged they were then suspended upside down and beaten with wooden planks on their feet. They stated attackers suppressed their cries by stuffing Mwangi's underwear into his mouth and cloth into Atuhaire's.

The activists claim their attackers inserted objects, possibly their hands, into their rectums, smeared excrement on Atuhaire's body, and took photographs instructing them not to speak about the events. They were subsequently abandoned near their home countries after approximately two days.

Atuhaire expressed the trauma, saying, “I didn’t think we would come out of there alive. It was incredibly painful.”

“I never expected something like this,” Mwangi said.