President Samia Suluhu Hassan has remained adamant despite uproar following the deportation and detention of activists in Tanzania.
Speaking on Saturday, May 24, 2025, during a brief swearing-in ceremony in Dar es Salaam State House, Suluhu remained bullish, indicating that foreign activists were more focused on disturbing the longstanding peace in Tanzania.
While appearing to defend the decision to deport them, Suluhu warned that if the Tanzanian government fails to intervene, foreign activists would infiltrate their ministries and even other state organs.
In her rallying call, President Suluhu implored all citizens of the Swahili-speaking nation to rise and defend their country.
“Kwa sababu ya uzuri na madhubutu ya taifa letu, mnaona yanayotokea leo kwamba watu kutoka kwingine wanataka kuja kuvuruga uku ndani,” Suluhu stated.
“Sasa kazi ya kulinda hio si yangu pekee yangu wala sio vyombo vya ulinzi na usalama pekee yako, ni sote kwa sababu wakikosa uku watapita mawizara, mashirika yetu, watataka kuingia uku kuvuruga.
“Kwa hivyo muilinde taifa lenu. Hii ndio raslimali tuliachiwa hatuna nyengine. Kwa hivyo, endeni mkailindeni,” she insisted.
Which loosely translates to, “Because of the goodness and steadiness of our country, you are witnessing what is happening that people from elsewhere want to come here to disarrange,” Suluhu stated.
“Now the work of protecting the nation is not mine alone, nor is it reserved only to our security organs, it is our collective responsibility because if we do not do that they will infiltrate our ministries, our agencies, and they will want to come in and disrupt everything.
“Now, protect your country. This is the only resource left for us, so go and guard our nation,” she insisted.
US wants answers
Suluhu’s reaction came hours after the US Bureau of African Affairs, which is under its Department of State, posted a terse message on the treatment of Kenya’s photojournalist Boniface Mwangi and Uganda’s Agather Atuhaire.
US expressed concern over how the duo was mistreated by authorities in Tanzania.
“The United States is deeply concerned by reports of the mistreatment in Tanzania of the two East African activists,” it wrote.
“We call for an immediate and full investigation into the allegations of human rights abuses. We urge all countries in the region to hold to account those responsible for violating human rights, including torture,” the post read.
Deportation
Atuhaire was dumped near the Uganda-Tanzania border point of Mutukula after going missing for days.
Conversely, Mwangi was dumped in Ukunda, at the coast, near the Kenya-Tanzania border.
Before his discovery, Kenya had issued a lengthy démarche saying Tanzania had not been cooperating in disclosing his whereabouts.
In a separate statement on Friday, May 23, 2025, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi indicated that the issue had been resolved amicably despite Boniface Mwangi and Atuhaire lamenting about being tortured and assaulted in Tanzania.
