East African Human Rights Defenders Sound Alarm Over Escalating Repression
Human rights defenders and civil society leaders from Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania have issued a stark warning over the rapidly shrinking civic space and rising state-sponsored repression across East Africa.
The call comes at the close of a three-day regional convening in Nairobi, where grassroots activists, legal experts, and civil society actors gathered to reflect, strategize, and reinforce solidarity in the face of growing threats.
In a strongly worded press statement issued today, the group decried what they termed a coordinated assault on fundamental freedoms in the region, marked by increased criminalization of dissent, enforced disappearances, and systematic targeting of opposition voices.
“Civic space the oxygen of democracy is being suffocated across our countries through draconian laws, intimidation, surveillance, and outright violence,” the statement read.
Mounting Human Rights Violations Across the RegionThe coalition cited specific cases in each country to illustrate the gravity of the situation.
In Kenya, activists reported a resurgence of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, with victims such as Brian Odhiambo, Ibrahim Ramadhan, Dennis Muthui, and 17-year-old Musa Kibet allegedly targeted by state operatives in recent months.
In Uganda, the abduction and detention of critics, particularly those aligned with the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP), has become a grim norm. The group condemned the continued use of military courts to try civilians, despite a Supreme Court ruling declaring the practice unconstitutional.
In Tanzania, a climate of fear persists for activists and opposition voices. The unresolved disappearance of several youth, including Deusdedith Soka, and the brutal murder of activist Ali Kibao whose mutilated body was discovered on the shores of Dar es Salaam underscored the risks faced by those speaking out.
“These are not isolated incidents,” the coalition stated.
“They reflect a systemic pattern of repression and an erosion of democratic institutions across the region.”
The group further highlighted a troubling increase in the persecution of opposition leaders. In Kenya, political figures face arbitrary arrests for criticizing government corruption. In Uganda, veteran opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye remains targeted by what activists termed trumped-up charges, while in Tanzania, Tundu Lissu’s arrest for demanding electoral reforms has raised alarms.
The activists demanded the immediate release of all political prisoners, asserting that “their continued detention is not only unlawful but a betrayal of democratic values.
Equally concerning is the rise in illegal cross-border deportations of activists and dissidents within East Africa, a practice that contravenes the international legal principle of non-resident.
The group warned that such actions expose individuals to grave risks and erode the region’s credibility on human rights.
Reaffirming their shared commitment to justice, the coalition pledged to monitor and document rights violations, strengthen cross-border solidarity, and pursue accountability through legal and advocacy mechanisms.
They called upon the East African Community (EAC), the African Union (AU), and the international community to urgently intervene and uphold human rights protections in the region.
“The silence of regional bodies emboldens those who violate the rights of their own citizens,” from the statement.
“We will not stand by as repression is normalized. The lives and freedoms of millions depend on our collective action.”
By Sharon Atieno
