Cleric urge Ireland to halt aid to Tanzania over activists' detention

A cleric has urged Ireland to stop foreign aid to Tanzania should it fail to apologise over detention and allegations of torture and sexual abuse activists Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan activist and lawyer Agather Atuhaire.

According to Father Gabriel Dolan, Tanzania has been a principal beneficiary of Irish Aid for almost half a century and that the President Samia Suluhu should promote the principles of democracy which Irish upholds in high regard. 

"I would recommend that if no action is taken against the perpetrators of these heinous crimes, that Ireland should consider freezing all aid – apart from humanitarian assistance – to the Tanzanian Government," aid Fr. Dolan. 

"The country is quickly descending into an authoritarian state," he said, calling on the government of Ireland not to "stand idly or quietly by" in the face of such impunity.

Mwangi and Atuhaire travelled to Tanzania two weeks ago in solidarity with Tanzania opposition politician Tundu Lissu who was appearing in court on treason charges that he denies.

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They were among several activists and political figures including People's Liberation Party leader Martha Karua and former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga who had also travelled to join their colleagues in showing support to Lissu. 

Karua and Mutunga were denied entry to the country and deported back to Nairobi. 

Lissu was arrested on 9 April, this year, following his rallying call of "no reforms, no election."

During an emotional press briefing last Monday, the two narrated the torture they endured while in detention in Tanzania, actions that revealed a cross-border crackdown on voices of dissent under the guise of "maintaining peace."

The Irish national expressed "deepest concern" about the illegal arrest, detention, torture and sexual abuse of the human rights defenders, saying he "it is a miracle that he is still alive even prior to this recent attack." 

He said the tribulations surrounding Mwangi troubled him as he is a person he has known for over two decades and with whom they have close ties. 

"I spent 42 years in Kenya, mostly working on Human Rights matters and in January 2024 I was humbled to be one of twelve recipients of President Michael D Higgins award for distinguished service among the diaspora. I can therefore vouch for Boniface Mwangi’s genuineness," he stated.