Concerns as rise in strong-arm rule in East Africa goes unabated

A fresh wave of growing intolerance is sweeping across governments in East Africa, a region that has historically seemed half-hearted about embracing democratic principles.

Across the East African Community (EAC), vocal opposition leaders are finding it rough. Some face threats of criminal charges while others suffer detention. And respective governments, which face accusations of advancing authoritarianism, seem to be “watching each other’s backs,” as Macharia Munene, a professor of leadership and international relations, described to the Sunday Standard.

Fears of emerging, if not growing, dictatorship came to the fore this past week, when Tanzania detained, allegedly="https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/amp/article/2001519848/boniface-mwangi-recounts-torture-deportation-by-tanzanian-authorities"> tortured and deported < Kenyan and Ugandan political activists, who had sought to observe the trial of opposition politician Tundu Lissu.

The 57-year-old Lissu, who was shot 16 times in an assassination attempt in 2017, faces treason charges, which attract the death penalty, for what his allies say is demanding electoral reform ahead of elections slated for October.

He is the leader of Tanzania’s main opposition party, Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema), which was disqualified from participating in the polls for failing to sign a mandatory code of conduct agreement within the set deadline.

Lissu was shot at during the late former President John Magufuli’s authoritarian tenure. Magufuli violently cracked down on dissent, detaining critics and pushing others, such as Lissu, into exile.

Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu was unflinching ="https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/national/article/2001519521/tanzania-president-suluhu-vows-action-against-meddling-foreign-activists">in her warning “If they have been contained in their country, let them not come here to meddle. Let's not give them a chance. They have already created chaos in their own country,” said Suluhu.

Suluhu was seen as a breath of fresh air when she ascended to the presidency in 2021, following Magufuli’s death. In 2022, she ordered the release of opposition leader Freeman Mbowe, who had been jailed on terrorism charges for eight months. Lissu would return from exile in 2023 after Suluhu’s government lifted a ban on political rallies.

However, the ruling administration has faced accusations that it was clawing back on civil liberties, actions that contradict Tanzania’s history in the liberation struggle, which saw it lead the deposing of Uganda’s dictator Idi Amin in 1979.

Martha Karua, who was ="https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/national/article/2001519413/karua-deported-accuses-government-of-collaboration?utm_cmp_rs=amp-next-page">among those deported< from Tanzania, said their ejection “represents not only a humanitarian concern for the individuals involved but also a troubling indicator of deteriorating human rights and justice standards within the East African Community.”

The deported activists see their presence in Tanzania as necessary in the larger push to advance democracy in the region. The principles of integration that the EAC’s charter, they have argued, dictates that they should be their brother’s keepers.

 “We need to, as a community of nations in East Africa, we must call out dictatorial tendencies whenever they emerge, because we are all brothers… and we cannot allow a situation where we have Kenyans being deported,” Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna said Wednesday.

Sifuna has been consistent in calling out President William Ruto’s government over excesses and rights abuses. He participated in the opposition’s anti-government protests in 2023, which claimed multiple lives. The opposition outfit said more than 70 of its supporters died.

More than 60, according to rights groups, would die in a youth-led revolt last year against tax hikes. In Kenya, the region’s largest economy, repression has taken root. Government critics have faced abduction and torture in recent months.

As pressure piles on Ruto, perceived to be unpopular among the youth, especially on social media, his government has recently faced accusations of persecuting critics. Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, a vocal critic of the government, was ="https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/western/article/2001519494/eacc-arrests-natembeya-over-alleged-sh14-billion-graft-in-county-projects">dramatically arrested< over corruption-related charges.

The Head of State has succeeded in controlling the bicameral Parliament, which should provide checks on the Executive. An onslaught on the Judiciary has invited accusations that the Executive wants to take hold of the Chief Justice Martha Koome-led arm of government.

“Those in leadership are scared. There is a wind of change, not just in East Africa, but across the world. But those in authority are desperate to retain their power. We are seeing a lot of political intolerance and very strong signs of autocratic behaviour from people who are scared because they sense they are likely to be defeated,” Machakos Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi, an international relations expert, said about the region’s political situation.

Prof Munene concurred, saying: “Those in power are feeling insecure and think they can reduce the pressure by locking up people.” 

“And they are looking after each other’s backs, and that is why government officials are doing the bidding of other countries. The region’s leaders would want to be unquestioned and unaccountable,” said Prof Munene, pointing out that there were signs of dictatorship, which could be prevented if citizens rejected it unitedly.

“The civil society can help, but it can’t do much as they are dependent on goodwill from outside the region,’ he added.

Indeed, these signs have featured across the community. Last December, Martha ="https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/national/article/2001507824/lsk-criticises-uganda-for-blocking-karua-from-representing-besigye">Karua was blocked< from representing Kizza Besigye, Uganda’s most enduring opposition politician, who faces treason charges. Karua’s request for a legal practising license was later allowed.

Besigye had been abducted in Nairobi earlier in November, a move that bore the hallmarks of a coordinated effort between Kenyan and Ugandan authorities.