Tanzania’s Suluhu Warns of Foreign Interference Amid Rights Abuse Claims

Nairobi — President Samia Suluhu Hassan has reaffirmed her administration’s commitment to safeguarding Tanzania from foreign interference, warning that so-called “outsiders” are exploiting advocacy and partnerships as cover to destabilise the nation.

Speaking during the swearing-in of newly appointed government officials at State House in Dar es Salaam on Saturday, President Suluhu urged vigilance across all sectors of government and civil society.

“They may not succeed through direct confrontation, but they will infiltrate our institutions–our ministries, our agencies. I urge you all to be alert and protect our nation,” she said.

Her remarks come amid growing scrutiny over Tanzania’s treatment of human rights defenders and civil society actors. While the President did not name specific entities, her comments are widely seen as a veiled response to mounting criticism from international human rights organisations and foreign governments over the country’s increasingly constrained civic space.

The warning follows fresh allegations of abuse involving two prominent East African activists–Ugandan journalist and rights advocate Agather Atuhaire, and Kenyan photojournalist and social justice campaigner Boniface Mwangi–who were reportedly mistreated while in the custody of Tanzanian authorities.

On Friday, the United States government expressed “deep concern” over the alleged human rights violations and called for a thorough investigation.

“The United States is deeply concerned by reports of the mistreatment in Tanzania of two East African activists–Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire and Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi,” the U.S. Bureau of African Affairs posted on X.