Tanzania activist Mange Kimambi faces extradition threat as country targets online dissent
The US-based influencer, who lives in Los Angeles and is known for her fiery political posts, is accused of fueling protests that turned deadly after Tanzania’s controversial vote.
Tanzania’s newly reappointed Attorney General, Hamza Johari, has directed government lawyers to pursue the extradition of US-based activist and influencer Mange Kimambi—who has nearly three million followers—over her social media posts during the country’s recent post-election unrest. Johari also revealed plans to introduce tougher laws to penalise domestic protesters.
On his first day back in office, Johari condemned the destruction of public and private property during the October 29 elections as “unacceptable,” saying the government would not tolerate activists abroad inciting unrest at home.
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Although he did not mention Kimambi by name, Johari instructed government lawyers to explore legal and diplomatic avenues for her extradition from the United States.
"We saw the destruction of private and public property, including a vehicle belonging to the AG's office. This is unacceptable," he told staff at the Attorney General’s Chambers in Dodoma shortly after taking his oath of office.
"I was summoned after being sworn in and was given instructions to seek legal and diplomatic solutions... we can't allow one lady who is outside Tanzania to tell people to do that (protest) and then brag about it. We must arrest her."
Post-poll protest deaths
The protests, which erupted after the disputed general election, reportedly left multiple people dead. Opposition leaders allege that thousands were killed by security forces, a claim the government has denied.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan has acknowledged a “loss of life” but commended security agencies for restoring order.
Videos circulating online have raised alarm, appearing to show casualties, while reports suggest mortuaries in several public hospitals were overwhelmed. Calls are mounting for an independent probe into alleged arbitrary shootings and mass fatalities.
Kimambi, who lives in Los Angeles, used her social media platforms to highlight claims of killings, enforced disappearances, and government repression during the unrest.
She told her 2.5 million Instagram followers that FBI agents in the US had warned her of a possible assassination plot.
Kimambi alleged that members of a Mexican cartel had been hired to carry out the hit, but vowed not to abandon her activism.
The extradition push comes as the African Union, in its observer report, described Tanzania’s October election as “disputable.”
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