**Maria Sarungi Tsehai's brief kidnapping raises concerns over regional safety and government repression.**
**Tanzanian Activist Maria Sarungi Tsehai Rescued After Abduction in Kenya**
**Tanzanian Activist Maria Sarungi Tsehai Rescued After Abduction in Kenya**
**Prominent critic of Tanzanian government shares her harrowing experience with followers.**
Maria Sarungi Tsehai, a notable Tanzanian activist known for her strong criticism of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, has been found safe after being abducted in Nairobi, Kenya. The incident took place on a Sunday afternoon when armed men forced her into a vehicle, as reported by Amnesty International Kenya's spokesperson, Roland Ebole. Miraculously, she was released only hours later and took to social media to express her relief, stating, "I have been saved," to her 1.3 million followers on X.
As a fervent advocate for land rights and freedom of expression, Tsehai has been vocal against what she describes as a resurgence of tyranny in Tanzania under President Hassan, despite claims of political reform. Her abduction has sparked widespread concern, with the Law Society of Kenya's president, Faith Odhiambo, emphasizing the need to prevent Kenya from becoming a safe spot for such operations targeting dissenters from neighboring countries.
Despite the tension, neither Kenyan nor Tanzanian officials have made public comments regarding her kidnapping. The Change Tanzania movement, which Tsehai founded, alleges her abduction was orchestrated by Tanzanian security forces acting outside their jurisdiction to suppress legitimate dissent. This aligns with broader fears regarding human rights in Tanzania, particularly leading up to the 2025 presidential elections, where suppression against opposition figures has been noted.
The incident echoes past abductions in Kenya, with a history of the country allowing foreign governmental operations that violate international law. In a previous noted case, Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye was similarly seized in Nairobi and extradited against his will. Currently, Kenya faces scrutiny due to rising disappearances linked to state policy, emphasizing the urgency of Tsehai's situation and the overarching need for governmental accountability in both Kenya and Tanzania.
As a fervent advocate for land rights and freedom of expression, Tsehai has been vocal against what she describes as a resurgence of tyranny in Tanzania under President Hassan, despite claims of political reform. Her abduction has sparked widespread concern, with the Law Society of Kenya's president, Faith Odhiambo, emphasizing the need to prevent Kenya from becoming a safe spot for such operations targeting dissenters from neighboring countries.
Despite the tension, neither Kenyan nor Tanzanian officials have made public comments regarding her kidnapping. The Change Tanzania movement, which Tsehai founded, alleges her abduction was orchestrated by Tanzanian security forces acting outside their jurisdiction to suppress legitimate dissent. This aligns with broader fears regarding human rights in Tanzania, particularly leading up to the 2025 presidential elections, where suppression against opposition figures has been noted.
The incident echoes past abductions in Kenya, with a history of the country allowing foreign governmental operations that violate international law. In a previous noted case, Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye was similarly seized in Nairobi and extradited against his will. Currently, Kenya faces scrutiny due to rising disappearances linked to state policy, emphasizing the urgency of Tsehai's situation and the overarching need for governmental accountability in both Kenya and Tanzania.
