Civil society groups give AU, EAC 72 hours to act on alleged abductions, torture in Tanzania

Forty-eight civil society organisations and prominent African leaders have issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the African Union Commission (AUC) and East African Community (EAC) Secretariat to address what they describe as a regional crisis marked by abductions, torture, and blatant disregard for the rule of law in Tanzania.

The Pan-African Progressive Leaders’ Solidarity Network (PAPLSN), together with co-signing human rights organisations, issued a letter on Thursday, raising urgent concerns over the detention and disappearance of Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire and the torture of Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi.

The two activists were detained by Tanzanian authorities since Monday, May 19, 2025. They were part of an East African delegation observing the treason trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu of the opposition party CHADEMA at Kisutu Court in Dar es Salaam.

While Tanzania released Mwangi on Thursday, he was dumped in Horohoro, on the Coast of Kenya, some 162 kilometres from the Lunga Lunga border, having been tortured, wounded and in urgent need of medical attention.

Atuhaire’s whereabouts unknown

Meanwhile, Atuhaire’s whereabouts remain unknown, and her family has not seen her since her reported abduction by Tanzanian security forces.

The detention of Mwangi and Atuhaire followed the deportation of six other international trial observers, including Kenya's former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, People Liberation Party leader Martha Karua, member of the Law Society of Kenya Council Lynn Ngugi, alongside activists Hussein Khalid and Hanifa Adan.

The individuals had arrived at Julius Nyerere International Airport on the same mission when they were expelled.

PAPLSN has now called on the AUC, African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, East African Commission, and Southern African Development Community (SADC) to take urgent diplomatic and legal actions.

Diplomatic notes

Among the demands are the issuance of formal diplomatic notes to Tanzania seeking clarification on Atuhaire’s whereabouts and legal status, activation of human rights monitoring mechanisms and raising inquests into allegations of illegal detention and torture and raising the matter in bilateral talks between Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda emphasising the need for transparency and adherence to legal procedures.

“This situation represents a serious breach of both national and international human rights standards and is evidence of a dangerous trend of coordinated abductions, forced disappearances, torture and extrajudicial killings in the region,” reads the letter by PAPLSN.

The network has also called for a joint diplomatic statement expressing concern over the forced disappearances and deportations of East African citizens, an extraordinary meeting convened by the East African Community Secretariat to address violations of regional human rights protocols, and the deployment of diplomatic observers to attend any related court proceedings.

Bilateral assistance programmes

The coalition also urges review of bilateral assistance programmes with relevant governments, with human rights compliance as a condition, facilitation of international legal expertise to support local human rights defenders, and invocation of international mechanisms, including United Nations Special Procedures and regional human rights bodies.

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• Ugandan activist
• Civil society groups give AU
• EAC 72 hours to act on alleged abductions

They emphasise the importance of maintaining public diplomacy, reinforcing human rights and just governance as foundational principles of international relations in the region.

“This situation represents not only a humanitarian concern for the individuals involved but also a troubling indicator of deteriorating human rights and justice standards within the East African Community. Your diplomatic influence is crucial in ensuring that member states uphold their commitments to human rights and the rule of law,” reads the letter, requesting a formal response within 72 hours.

Co-signing human rights and legal entities of the petition include the Law Society of Kenya, East Africa Law Society, Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU), Amnesty International Kenya, Transparency International, PAWA254, Tetezi Africa, Siasa Place, Tribeless Youth, Kongamano la Mapinduzi, VOCAL Africa, HAKI Africa, Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI), Women and Wellness, Institute for Land Governance and Human Rights, Sisters for Justice, Sema Ukweli and Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), among others.

Copies of the letter have been sent to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the East African Court of Justice, the International Commission of Jurists, and foreign embassies represented in the region.