Samia Suluhu issues warning to foreign activists after deporting Kenyan delegation
Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan has warned against foreign activists interfering in Tanzania’s internal affairs, accusing them of seeking to destroy the peace of Tanzania.
Speaking moments after deporting several activists from Kenya who had visited the country for the hearing of the case against opposition figure Tindi Lissu, Suluhu said that the activists were visiting the country after being put under control in their home countries.
Lissu was charged with treason in April 2025, after his party Chadema expressed its opposition to the general elections slated for October 2025, noting that there would have to be reforms before the polls are conducted.
Suluhu made the statement on Monday, May 19, 2025, during the launch of the new Foreign Policy (2024) held at the Julius Nyerere International Conference Centre (JNICC), emphasising that Tanzania is among the few countries that are filled with peace and stability.
“Tumeanza kuona mwenendo wa wanaharakati kuvamia mambo yetu huku. Kama kwao wameshadhibitiwa, wasije kutuharibia huku. Nchi iliyobaki haijaharibika ni yetu tusitoe nafasi kwa watovu wa adabu kutoka nchi nyingine kuja kuvuruga hapa,” Suluhu said.
Loosely translated as; “We have started to see the behavior of activists invading our affairs here. If they have been controlled, they should not come and destroy us here. The country that remains unspoiled is ours so that we do not give room to immoral people from other countries to come and disrupt here.”
Kenyans deported
Among the Kenyans who were deported from Tanzania are former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, activist-cum-journalist Hanifa Adan, and activist Hussein Khalid.
The deportation of the trio comes hours after they were detained at Julius Nyerere International Airport and denied entry into the neighbouring country.
The three had travelled to Tanzania in solidarity with Tanzanian lawyers and human rights defenders at the invitation of the East Africa Law Society to stand in support of the detained opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who appeared in court on Monday, May 19.
Their detention came hours after People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua and human rights defenders and lawyers Gloria Kimani and Lynn Ngugi were detained at the same airport and deported.
Lissu is expected to square it out with Suluhu in the election should he be acquitted of the charges he is facing.
In 2017, Lissu survived an assassination attempt under the regime of the late President John Magufuli, after which he fled the country over safety concerns. He was shot 16 times.
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