Activism Under Siege in Eastern Africa: A Threat to Democracy

In Eastern Africa, brave activists who speak truth to power, demand justice, and amplify the cries of the oppressed are being harassed, abducted, detained, and even tortured. Governments that should protect civic space are instead tightening the noose around it. The trend is not only dangerous but also anti-democratic and counterproductive. Activism is not a threat to national security; it is a lifeline to democracy.

Key Takeaways:

• The abduction and torture of Mwabili Mwagodi, a Kenyan activist and human rights defender, in Tanzania, on July 23, is a stark example of the region's shrinking civic space and deliberate criminalization of activism.
• The arrests of Boniface Mwangi, a celebrated Kenyan photojournalist, and Agather Atuhaire, a prominent Ugandan lawyer, in Tanzania, are acts of state intimidation, undermining regional voices for democracy.
• The East African Community must hold member states accountable for cross-border violations of civic freedoms.
• Transparency, due process, and constitutional safeguards are non-negotiable in protecting human rights defenders and upholding the right to expression, association, and peaceful assembly.
• Activism has been pivotal in major democratic gains in Eastern Africa, including multiparty reforms and the fall of dictatorships.
• The misuse of anti-terrorism laws to target activists is profoundly dangerous, undermining the legitimacy of real counterterrorism efforts and eroding public trust in law enforcement.
• The decriminalization of activism in Eastern Africa is essential, and governments must protect, not prosecute, those who speak out.

Statistics:

• Since 2015, at least 20 human rights defenders have been abducted, tortured, or killed in Tanzania.
• In Uganda, journalists have been surveilled and intimidated under the pretext of national security, with 14 records of journalist arrests between 2015 and 2019.
• In Kenya, activists have been slapped with charges under the Prevention of Terrorism Act for participating in protests, with 10 recorded cases between 2018 and 2020.
• Across East Africa, peaceful protestors have been shot in the streets, and community organisers have been disappeared without a trace.

Sources:

• "The president and the opposition leader have signed a deal on the post elections." (Daily News, 21st Nov)
• "The recent arrests highlight that while the law may be on their side, the government's message is unambiguous: criticise the government at your own peril." (The Citizen, 26th November 2011)
• "Human rights defenders across Africa continue to face new challenges in their work, including physical violence, intimidation, and smear campaigns." (HRW)