Ex-Kenyan Justice Minister Deported from Tanzania Amid Tundu Lissu's Trial

Kenya's former Justice Minister, Martha Karua, has been deported from Tanzania, igniting fears of political intimidation as she sought to support opposition leader Tundu Lissu's treason trial.

Martha Karua, a prominent Kenyan lawyer and ex-Justice Minister, has been forcibly deported from Tanzania, sparking outrage over potential political oppression. Karua, along with her colleagues, was reportedly detained and interrogated for hours before being sent back to Kenya. The Tanzanian government has remained silent on this matter, which coincides with the upcoming court appearance of Tundu Lissu, the leader of the Chadema opposition party facing serious treason charges he claims are politically motivated.

Lissu's situation has become increasingly precarious since his arrest in April, during a rally calling for electoral reforms. His party, Chadema, has been barred from participating in upcoming elections, and the current government, led by President Samia Suluhu Hassan, faces accusations of regression towards the oppressive tactics of former leader John Magufuli. Karua's actions in supporting opposition leaders, along with her own political ambitions, underline the ongoing struggle for democratic integrity in Tanzania and East Africa more broadly. The international community continues to watch closely as these tensions develop.