Latest news with #SamiaSuluhuHassan
Reuters
2 days ago
- General
- Reuters
Tanzania deports foreign activists supporting detained opposition leader
Tanzania's main opposition leader Tundu Lissu told his supporters to have no fear as he appeared in court on Monday on charges including treason, as President Samia Suluhu Hassan warned foreign rights activists against interference. David Doyle reports.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Tanzanian politician's lawyers ask UN to declare his detention arbitrary
Lawyers for Tanzania's jailed opposition leader Tundu Lissu filed a complaint on Friday to the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in a bid to ramp up international pressure for his release. Lissu, chairman of Tanzania's main opposition party and runner-up in the 2020 presidential election, was arrested last month and charged with treason, a capital offence, over comments he is alleged to have made calling on supporters to prevent national elections in October from going ahead. Tanzania's government spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment. While President Samia Suluhu Hassan has won plaudits for easing political repression, she has faced questions about unexplained abductions of government critics in recent months. Hassan, who will stand for re-election in October, has said her government respects human rights and ordered an investigation into the reported abductions. Lissu's international lawyer, Robert Amsterdam, said the confidential complaint to the UN working group, which issues opinions but has no enforcement power, was part of a wider pressure campaign. The European Parliament this month adopted a resolution denouncing Lissu's arrest as politically motivated, and Amsterdam said he would petition the US State Department to impose sanctions. "Right down to prosecutors, judges, police - all the people that are involved in this false show trial had better be aware that they should protect their US assets," Amsterdam told Reuters. Read more on RFI EnglishRead also:Kenya slammed as 'rogue state' over Ugandan opposition leader kidnapKenyan politician, lawyer for Tanzania opposition leader arrestedTension high in Tanzania ahead of opposition leader's 'treason' trial
DW
3 days ago
- Politics
- DW
Tanzania's intolerance of transnational activism – DW – 05/30/2025
05/30/2025 May 30, 2025 Tanzania's detention, alleged torture and deportation of two East African human rights defenders has sparked a storm. President Samia Suluhu Hassan has warned that there's no place for activists "invading and infiltrating", but critics of her government say the case involved simple acts of regional solidarity.
BBC News
5 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Kenya President William Ruto apologies to Tanzania over deportation row
Kenya's President William Ruto has publicly apologised to Tanzania following days of tension between the neighbouring Kenyans on social media have been targeting Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan following the recent detention and deportation of prominent East African Tanzanian MPs on Monday accused Kenyans of cyberbullying and disrespecting Tanzanian sovereignty and "meddling in domestic affairs". Speaking at a national prayer breakfast on Wednesday, Ruto appeared to extend an olive branch to Tanzania. "To our neighbours from Tanzania, if we have wronged you in any way, forgive us," he said."If there is anything that Kenyans have done that is not right, we want to apologise," the president added. Ugandan activist alleges she was raped while in Tanzanian detentionWhy Samia's hesitant reforms are fuelling Tanzanian political angerRuto also apologised to young Kenyans, popularly known as Gen-Zs, who have been critical of his administration since the deadly anti-tax protesters last June. The president made the remarks in response to a call by visiting American preacher Rickey Allen Bolden, who urged leaders to pursue diplomatic row was triggered by the deportation of activists who had travelled to Tanzania to attend the trial of opposition leader Tundu them were Kenyan Boniface Mwangi and Agather Atuhaire from Uganda. The two said they were held incommunicado for several days and tortured, before they were left at the border by Tanzanian security forces, sparking widespread condemnation across the region and from international rights groups. Tanzania is yet to comment on the torture claims but President Samia had earlier warned that she would not allow activists from neighbouring countries to "meddle" in her country's affairs and cause "chaos".Both Kenya and Ugandan had formally protested against the detention of the activists, accusing the Tanzanian authorities of denying consular access despite repeated alleged mistreatment of the activists triggered an online war, with social media users from Kenya and Tanzania clashing over the a heated debate on Monday, Tanzanian parliamentarians expressed outrage over the young Kenyans trolling President MPs said Samia had every right to defend Tanzania's national interests. The legislators' comments angered some Kenyans who hit back by sharing lawmakers' contacts and flooding their phones with messages to express their Iringa Town MP Jesca Msambatavangu said that most of the messages came via WhatsApp, forcing her to temporarily switch off her however, welcomed the engagement, encouraging Kenyans on social media to "counter ideas with ideas". She asked young Kenyans to create a WhatsApp group for further engagement and promised to engage them in a live session on Saturday."Kenyans are our neighbours, our brothers, and we cannot ignore each other," she added. You may also be interested in: El Chapo & Deputy Jesus - why Kenya's president has so many nicknamesCould this be the end of the road for Tanzania's great survivor, Tundu Lissu?How Kenya's evangelical president has fallen out with churchesX restricted in Tanzania after police targeted by hackers Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Tanzania's Foreign Policy Launch Strengthens Afro-Latin Solidarity and South-South Cooperation
DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania, May 26, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Tanzania's new Foreign Policy framework, which was recently launched in Dar es Salaam calls for deeper Afro-Latin American solidarity and cultural diplomacy. It highlights the historical ties and shared development priorities between Tanzania, Brazil, and Cuba. The policy was launched on 19 May during an event officiated by the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, H.E. Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan. The launch was also attended by Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi, President of Zanzibar and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council, members of the Diplomatic Corps, senior government leaders and representatives from the private sector. Since independence, Tanzania's diplomacy has upheld anti-colonial values and cultural pride. The new policy revisits these roots while advancing people-centered development, multilingual engagement, and innovation partnerships with Latin America. With strong foundations in education, health, and liberation history, Tanzania invites renewed collaboration with Latin American partners The policy also supports Kiswahili promotion, South-South innovation, climate justice, and people-centered development — offering new pathways for engagement under platforms like the G77, UNCTAD, and the African Union-CELAC dialogue. Speaking during the launching ceremony, President Samia told the delegates that the drafting of the policy included views of Tanzanians from all walks of life. "The drafting of the policy was participatory since we wanted everyone to participate in the process; it was high time we revised the policy to cope with the global shifts in various spheres," she remarked. She mentioned some of the global shifts as the ongoing scramble for strategic minerals as the world seeks to move towards renewable energy from fossil fuel as well as disruptions of trade value chains caused by conflicts in some countries. According to President Samia, the renewed policy sets a clear course on how Tanzania engages with the world-grounded in national interest, principle and responsive to evolving global context. "This policy speaks on who we are as a nation, firm in our values, proactive in our diplomacy and committed to constructive partnerships that advance peace, security and shared prosperity," she affirmed. The guidelines plan special training for officials and envoys to achieve goals of economic diplomacy, where a key feature is granting special status to the Tanzania non-citizen Diaspora, formalizing their role in national development. The President urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation to make use of retired diplomats to conduct special trainings for officials in the ministry and other government offices on implementation of the policy. For his part, President Mwinyi said the updated policy will unlock potentials in many areas socially, economically and politically. "Tanzania continues to position itself in greater heights globally and the revised policy aligns with the needs of the evolving world," he stated. On the other hand, Dr Mwinyi urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to woo more countries to open consulates in Zanzibar with the aim of opening up the isles to the world. He went on and called on Tanzanians to protect the interests of their country through implementation of the new policy. "We should use the policy to protect the interest of our country, the new guidelines will benefit both parts of the union Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar," he noted. Ambassador Mahmoud Thabit Kombo said the revised policy seeks to foster deeper economic cooperation with development partners; support non-alignment and South-South cooperation. The Minister explained that the revised Foreign Policy focuses on 10 thematic areas, namely economic diplomacy; the promotion of peace, security, and political stability; the ratification and domestication of international treaties and protocols. The new policy also seeks to embrace effective participation in bilateral, regional and international bodies; the use of Kiswahili as an instrument of diplomacy and mobilizing international resources for national development, he stated. Other areas of focus are diaspora participation, maximizing opportunities arising from the blue economy and dispensing human rights and good governance in accordance with the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania of 1977 and its social and cultural values. As part of efforts to promote Kiswahili, the governments of Tanzania and Cuba hosted the First International Kiswahili Conference in Havana, from November 7 to 10, last year. President Samia's advocacy for Kiswahili has marked a historic milestone in Tanzania's cultural diplomacy. Through strategic engagements at the United Nations and UNESCO, she successfully campaigned for the recognition of July 7th as World Swahili Language Day. This achievement, secured through a UNESCO Resolution in November 2021, was followed by further efforts that led to the UN General Assembly's 2024 decision to officially recognize Kiswahili Day starting in 2025. President Samia's vision extends beyond symbolic recognition; she has established Kiswahili language centers in international universities and promoted its study worldwide, cementing Tanzania's role as a cultural leader in global forums. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Tanzania Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation. Download Image (1): Image Caption (1): H.E. Amb. Mindi Kasiga, Director of Communication at the Government Communications Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African cooperation speaking at the Tanzania Foreign Policy 2024 Launch event in Dar es Salaam recently Download Image (2): Image Caption (2): H.E. Amb. Samwel William Shelukindo, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation addresses attendees at the launch of the Tanzania Foreign Policy (2024) event in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Download Image (3): Image Caption (3): H.E. Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi, President of Zanzibar and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council speaks during celebrations to mark the official launch of the Tanzania Foreign Policy (2024) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Download Image (4): Image Caption (4): Young Tanzanian singers entertain the audience during celebrations to launch the Tanzania Foreign Policy (2024) recently in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Download Image (5): Image Caption (5): H.E. Dr. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete former President of the United Republic of Tanzania (centre) with H.E. Amb. Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation at an event to mark the launch of Tanzania Foreign Policy (2024) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Download Image (6): Image Caption (6): H.E. Amb. Mahmoud Thabit Kombo speaking at the launch of the Tanzania Foreign Policy (2024) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Download Image (7): Image Caption (7): H.E. Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania addressing attendees at an event to officially launch the Tanzania Foreign Policy (2024) held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania recently View source version on Contacts marie@ Sign in to access your portfolio
