Martha Karua, a prominent Kenyan lawyer and former Justice Minister, has reportedly been detained in Tanzania as she sought to attend the court proceedings of opposition leader Tundu Lissu. The incident has drawn condemnation from human rights activists and raises concerns about the political climate in Tanzania ahead of upcoming elections.
Martha Karua Detained in Tanzania Amid Growing Political Tensions
Martha Karua Detained in Tanzania Amid Growing Political Tensions
Kenyan ex-Justice Minister Martha Karua faces arrest while supporting opposition leader Tundu Lissu in Tanzania.
Karua announced her detention via social media after arriving at Dar es Salaam’s international airport, where she, along with two associates, was held and questioned for three hours before her passport was confiscated. The Tanzanian government has yet to release an official statement regarding the matter. Karua, an outspoken critic of authoritarianism in East Africa, has previously advocated for Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye, who faced similar charges.
This detention occurs as Tundu Lissu, leader of Tanzania's main opposition party Chadema, is due in court facing treason charges—a serious allegation that carries severe penalties, including death. Lissu, a known critic of the government, was previously the victim of an assassination attempt that left him gravely injured in 2017.
Karua's detention follows a concerning trend of increasing repression against political opposition in Tanzania, especially with presidential and parliamentary elections set for October. After his arrest during a rally earlier this year, Lissu's party has been barred from participating in the election due to a controversial code of conduct imposed by the government, which the opposition views as an attempt to stifle dissent.
Current Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who took office in 2021 and received initial praise for promising political reforms, is now facing criticism as signs of suppression reminiscent of her predecessor, John Magufuli, re-emerge. While the government refutes claims of a crackdown, the situation remains tense as activists pressure for democratic rights and fair elections.
Given these developments, the eyes of the international community are firmly upon Tanzania, as activists and observers call for the immediate release of Karua and her colleagues and for the protection of political freedoms in the country leading into the election season.
This detention occurs as Tundu Lissu, leader of Tanzania's main opposition party Chadema, is due in court facing treason charges—a serious allegation that carries severe penalties, including death. Lissu, a known critic of the government, was previously the victim of an assassination attempt that left him gravely injured in 2017.
Karua's detention follows a concerning trend of increasing repression against political opposition in Tanzania, especially with presidential and parliamentary elections set for October. After his arrest during a rally earlier this year, Lissu's party has been barred from participating in the election due to a controversial code of conduct imposed by the government, which the opposition views as an attempt to stifle dissent.
Current Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who took office in 2021 and received initial praise for promising political reforms, is now facing criticism as signs of suppression reminiscent of her predecessor, John Magufuli, re-emerge. While the government refutes claims of a crackdown, the situation remains tense as activists pressure for democratic rights and fair elections.
Given these developments, the eyes of the international community are firmly upon Tanzania, as activists and observers call for the immediate release of Karua and her colleagues and for the protection of political freedoms in the country leading into the election season.
