Tanzania - August 2023

In August, police arrested three prominent critics of a controversial deal struck by the Tanzanian government, under which the country’s ports are to be run by an Emirati company. Willibrod Slaa, a former parliamentarian and ambassador, Boniface Mwabukusi, a lawyer, and Mdube Nyagali, a political activist, were arrested between 12 and 13 August having publicly criticised the deal. According to their lawyers, the three face charges of treason, which carries the death sentence, although no official information about the specific charges has been released. The Tanzanian government stated that their arrest had nothing to do with their criticism of the port deal, but rather calls, it alleges they made, for the violent overthrow of the government. However, commentators say the arrests are part of a crackdown on the deal’s critics, with Human Rights Watch reporting that between June and August 2023 at least 22 critics (including protesters) were arbitrarily detained or threatened by authorities.    

Sources: Africa Confidential, Amnesty International, Legal and Human Rights Centre, British Broadcasting Corporation, Human Rights Watch