Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan lawyer Agather Atuhaire may be out of police custody, but their troubles in Tanzania are far from over.
According to Law Society of Tanzania President Kameel Mwabukusi, the two were released from police cells earlier today but are now being held by the country’s Immigration Department. While fears of immediate deportation were momentarily quelled, their continued detention without clarity has sparked regional concern.
Mwangi and Atuhaire had reportedly travelled to Tanzania for a civil society engagement but were arrested under unclear circumstances, triggering a wave of outrage from rights groups across East Africa.
Mwabukusi, who has been closely following the developments, says their release from police custody is only a partial relief, as immigration officials have yet to disclose whether the two will face further legal action or be allowed to return to their respective countries.
Human rights defenders and legal experts are now calling for transparency and due process, warning that the detention of activists without formal charges could set a dangerous precedent for cross-border freedoms in the region.
As pressure mounts both online and on diplomatic channels, all eyes are on Tanzanian authorities to ensure the rule of law prevails.
