Human rights defenders from Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania have joined forces to denounce a dangerous wave of state repression sweeping across East Africa. After a three-day meeting in Nairobi, the activists painted a grim picture of disappearing critics, targeted opposition leaders, and a systematic assault on democratic freedoms.
The situation appears dire in all three nations. Kenya has witnessed a troubling spike in extrajudicial killings, with young activists like Brian Odhiambo and student Musa Kibet among recent victims. Across the border in Uganda, security forces continue abducting government critics, defying court orders by holding civilians in military detention. Tanzania’s climate of fear persists, marked by the gruesome killing of activist Ali Kibao and unresolved disappearances of dissenting voices.
Political opposition faces particular persecution, with prominent figures like Uganda’s Dr. Kizza Besigye and Tanzania’s Tundu Lissu repeatedly arrested on questionable charges. The crackdown has grown so severe that activists report a disturbing new trend—forcible cross-border deportations of exiled critics back to countries where their lives are at risk.
Faced with these coordinated attacks on democracy, the regional coalition has vowed to fight back. They’re building cross-border protection networks, documenting abuses, and preparing legal challenges. Their urgent appeal to the East African Community and African Union comes with a clear warning: regional inaction is enabling authoritarian overreach.
“The time to reclaim East Africa’s civic space is now,” the activists declared in a unified statement that blended defiance with determination. As governments tighten their grip, this unprecedented show of regional solidarity offers a glimmer of hope—proof that the struggle for human rights knows no borders in East Africa.
