East African leaders accused of uniting against State critics

Alarmed by a spate of cross-border abductions of state critics in East Africa – the latest involving Kenyan activists Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo – activists from the region are plotting a united fightback against autocracy.

They say the governments of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania were working together to stifle human rights. The activists attended an X Space engagement on Tuesday to discuss the abductions. They argued that nations, previously considered safe havens, had become unsafe. “We used to have pockets of abductions, but it was never an East African phenomenon,” Eron Kiiza, a Ugandan lawyer who sought production of Njagi and Oyoo in a Ugandan court, said during the Space engagement.

Njagi and Oyoo were reportedly abducted by heavily-armed men in Uganda, after attending rallies by opposition politician Robert Kyagulanyi, more famous as Bobi Wine, President Yoweri Museveni’s main rival in elections slated for early next year. Witnesses said Njagi and Oyoo were abducted at a petrol station after their car broke down.

Their abduction adds to a trend of cross-border kidnappings of state critics. Uganda’s Kizza Besigye was taken in Kenya late last year and surrendered to Ugandan authorities. He faces treason charges.

Njagi, a critic of President William Ruto, was abducted and allegedly tortured in Kenya at the height of last year’s youth-led protests, when such cases were rampant. Similarly, Kenyan and Ugandan activists – such as Boniface Mwangi, Agather Atuhaire and Mwabili Mwagodi – were abducted, separately, in Tanzania and reportedly tortured.

“Political activists become more endangered in the neighbouring countries than even at home. Ordinarily, you’d be safe in a neighbouring country, which you would assume has no political interest in your activities,” added Kiiza.

Activists escaping persecution at home would in the past seek refuge in neighbouring East African countries. One of the speakers highlighted the case of Tanzania’s opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who secured life-saving treatment in Nairobi for 16 gunshot wounds suffered in a 2017 assassination attempt.

Facing arrest and alleged assassination in Kenya, opposition leader Raila Odinga fled to Uganda in 1991 before leaving for Norway to seek asylum. Kenyan university student leaders suspended over their criticism of the government in the 1990s would complete their studies in Tanzanian and Ugandan universities. They include the late Otieno Kajwang’, who went to Uganda’s Makerere University after he was suspended from the University of Nairobi over his involvement in politics.

“There is no safe East African country. At some point, they were safe havens, but East Africa is in a race to the bottom,” said Kiiza. “No East African country can guarantee the safety and security of their citizens either at home or even within East Africa.”

Vocal Africa CEO Hussein Khalid said fearing internal backlash, East African governments had chosen to “use” their neighbours to carry out abductions and “teach” critics “a lesson.” “It is easier to use a third party to do your dirty work,” said Khalid. “It is now clear that our governments are working together to suppress our freedoms and violate our rights. As a people, we now need to come together… to make sure our region enjoys the freedoms and liberties enshrined in our constitutions, ” he added.

A united pushback was among the different strategies floated during the meeting to counter the unity they say the region’s leaders are displaying in stifling dissent. Rallying the masses behind the cause to end the abductions, as the activists said they would, could mean widespread street protests.

Yesterday, protesters staged a demonstration outside the Ugandan Embassy in Kenya to demand Njagi’s and Oyoo’s release. The demo followed an online campaign to “occupy” Ugandan embassies, a strategy the activists said they would employ in a multi-pronged approach that also includes diplomatic and legal action, despite their inadequacies.

“Judicial remedies are weak, but they are not useless. They are the only civilised method of holding state accountable,” said Kiiza.

On Monday, former Tanzanian ambassador to Cuba Humphrey Polepole, a vocal critic of President Samia Suluhu, was abducted at his residence. Other critics recently abducted in Tanzania, which heads to the polls later this month, include Rogers Yohana and an activist identified as Ramso.

In Uganda, Sam Mugumya, a former Besigye aide, and Sam Nsubuga have been missing still August. Kenya, too, has been notorious for the abduction of state critics. President Ruto’s administration has led a crackdown on online critics, who include cartoonists and youthful protesters who have staged waves of demonstrations since last year.

Sarungi, who also spoke at the meeting, said East Africa suffers from a leadership problem. “What kind of leadership status do you have if the only solution you see the minute someone criticises you, makes fun of you… is abduct and disappear that person?” She posed.