Activist Boniface Mwangi receives hospital visit from Martha Karua after deportation — Photo/File
U.S. Senator James Risch has voiced concern over the escalating cases of abductions and torture in East Africa, saying the trend poses a grave threat to both regional security and American interests.
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Risch Calls Out Impunity and State Collapse
Risch, the Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, warned that unchecked human rights abuses indicate systemic failure in governance.
“Rising abductions and torture in East Africa signal more than abuse – they expose state decay and impunity. That’s a direct threat to regional stability, security, and U.S. interests,” he said in a statement.
Focus on Boniface Mwangi and Agather Atuhaire
The statement follows a public outcry after the alleged mistreatment of Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan journalist Agather Atuhaire in Tanzania.
According to the U.S. Bureau of African Affairs, both activists were unlawfully detained while in Tanzania to observe legal proceedings involving opposition leader Tundu Lissu.
Torture Allegations Surface
After days of silence, Mwangi was found in Ukunda, Kwale County on May 22, 2025, after being deported. He reported severe torture during his detention:
“I have gone through four very dark days, I have been tortured very badly, I can barely walk,” he told reporters.
He described being forced to crawl, bathe while wounded, and strip under harsh conditions.
Calls for Accountability
The U.S. has called for a transparent investigation into the ordeal and urged East African governments to uphold human rights and due process.
Agather Atuhaire was later located at the Mutukula border crossing between Tanzania and Uganda. She is also recovering from the traumatic ordeal.
What This Means for East Africa
The incident adds pressure on regional governments, particularly Tanzania, to review their handling of political dissent. It also puts Kenya and Uganda under scrutiny as regional partners in upholding democratic values.
Observers fear that without accountability, such actions may further alienate East Africa from international allies and worsen the human rights record of the region.
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