Activist Boniface Mwangi ready to cooperate amid Tanzania safety fears
Mwangi explained that he refused to open his door to the men who identified themselves as police officers.
Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi has voiced concerns for his safety in Tanzania following a disturbing incident where suspected plainclothes officers appeared at his hotel room in Dar es Salaam late at night.
In a video shared on his official Twitter account on Monday, May 19, 2025, Mwangi explained that he refused to open his door to the men who identified themselves as police officers, referencing Tanzania’s recent history of abductions and government intimidation of critics.
In the video, Mwangi said, "I’m scared for my life because there are many abductions and executions in this country, and people are imprisoned for opposing Suluhu’s dictatorship."
He added that he wouldn’t let himself be taken without a fight.
Mwangi asked the men to slide their identification under the door, but they refused.
As tensions rose, one of the men told Mwangi he was making things worse by not cooperating.
Mwangi then challenged them to break down the door if they genuinely intended to arrest him.
Eventually, the men left without any further action.
In a follow-up tweet posted soon after, Mwangi confirmed that the officers had left the area outside his hotel room and seemed to have relocated to the lobby.
"The unidentified armed men have left my door. I’m told they have moved to the hotel lobby. My bags are packed, and I’m prepared to leave with them once the Tanzanian lawyers handling this case arrive. For now, I will stay put. Thank you for the support," Mwangi wrote.
The incident intensifies growing worries about the treatment of foreign activists and observers in Tanzania.
Mwangi was in the country to attend a court hearing for opposition leader Tundu Lissu, accompanied by fellow Kenyans Willy Mutunga, Hanifa Adan, and Hussein Khalid, who were previously detained at Julius Nyerere International Airport and deported without explanation.
The escalating crackdown on civil society and political dissent has alarmed rights groups throughout East Africa.
Mwangi’s experience has sparked condemnation from both local and international advocates calling for accountability from Tanzanian authorities.
