Kenya's Former Justice Minister Deported from Tanzania Amidst Political Tension**

Martha Karua, a prominent Kenyan lawyer and ex-justice minister, was reportedly deported from Tanzania as authorities acted to prevent her from attending the treason trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu, raising alarms about political freedom in the region.**

Kenya's former Justice Minister, Martha Karua, has been deported from Tanzania, raising significant concerns over political repression in the country ahead of crucial elections. Karua, who was in Tanzania to observe the treason trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu, is known for her strong advocacy for human rights and vocal criticism of democratic backsliding in East Africa.

Accompanying Karua during her visit were colleagues Gloria Kimani, a fellow lawyer, and human rights activist Lynn Ngugi, both of whom were also detained and deported after their arrival from Kenya. The Tanzanian authorities have yet to issue a formal comment regarding their actions. Lissu, who leads the Chadema party in Tanzania, was charged with treason last month and is set to appear in court, facing accusations that many view as politically motivated.

Karua's political impact is notable; she previously served as Kenya's Justice Minister from 2005 to 2009 and has recently established her own opposition party, the People's Liberation Party (PLP). The PLP described the interrogation and subsequent deportation of Karua and her colleagues as "unwarranted" and condemned the Tanzanian government for its actions. Chadema's secretary general, John Mnyika, called for the dismissal of the treason charges rather than the detention of foreign legal representatives.

There is an escalating concern among human rights organizations regarding state repression in Tanzania, especially with the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections set for October 2023. Lissu, who narrowly survived an assassination attempt in 2017, has seen his party barred from contesting these elections due to a refusal to sign a controversial code of conduct imposed by the electoral commission, which Chadema argues serves to further suppress opposition.

The ruling CCM party, in power since 1977, is poised to maintain control amid the ongoing political turmoil. While President Samia Suluhu Hassan initially attracted praise for expanding political freedoms since taking office in 2021, her administration now faces accusations of returning to the repressive tactics emblematic of her predecessor, John Magufuli's regime. The government's stance in the face of mounting criticisms has yet to shift, casting a shadow over the forthcoming electoral process in Tanzania and raising questions about the future of democratic freedoms in the region.