The United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee has sounded the alarm over what it terms a disturbing rise in abductions, torture, and human rights violations across East Africa, warning that the trend threatens both regional stability and American strategic interests.
In a strongly worded statement issued Thursday, Committee Chair and senior Republican Senator Jim Risch described the wave of abuses as a symptom of decaying institutions and growing impunity.
“Rising abductions and torture in East Africa signal more than abuse — they expose state decay and impunity,” Risch said. “That’s a direct threat to regional stability, security, and U.S. interests.”
Although no countries were explicitly named, the remarks come as human rights watchdogs increasingly flag crackdowns on civil liberties in Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. Of particular concern are the recent alleged abductions and mistreatment of two prominent East African activists — Ugandan journalist Agather Atuhaire and Kenyan photojournalist Boniface Mwangi — while on a visit to Tanzania.
The U.S. Bureau of African Affairs voiced “deep concern” over the alleged incidents and called for thorough investigations. Atuhaire, a celebrated anti-corruption campaigner, received the 2024 International Women of Courage Award from the U.S. State Department for her work promoting justice and human rights.
Atuhaire was reportedly found abandoned near the Uganda-Tanzania border, while Mwangi was discovered at the Kenya-Tanzania border after both went missing during a mission to observe opposition leader Tundu Lissu’s treason trial in Dodoma.
Lissu, a fierce critic of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, has been barred from running in Tanzania’s October 2025 elections — a move condemned by civil society groups as part of a wider trend of silencing dissent.
Activists across East Africa warn that the civic space is shrinking rapidly, with increased cross-border operations targeting outspoken figures. The U.S. has urged regional governments to pursue accountability and halt the cycle of impunity.
