Babu Owino Demands Apology from President Suluhu After Interpol Watchlist Mix-Up

Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has stirred controversy after revealing that he was detained at Dar es Salaam Airport under the mistaken belief that he was on Interpol’s wanted list.

Babu, who was held for over three hours, expressed outrage at the humiliating experience, asserting that he had never engaged in any criminal activity.

According to the MP, his passport was flagged at immigration control, and Tanzanian authorities informed him that his name appeared on Interpol’s most wanted list. Shocked by the allegation, the legislator dismissed it as a serious error. “I have never even stolen a chicken, so what is the problem?” he remarked, highlighting his disbelief at the mix-up.

Following the ordeal, Owino took to social media to demand a public apology from Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan. He described the incident as “shocking” and insisted that Tanzania must acknowledge the mistake. “President Samia owes me an apology,” he wrote, making it clear that he expected formal recognition of the error.

Despite the diplomatic embarrassment, Babu stated that he had no intention of taking further action against Tanzanian authorities, emphasizing that he had no particular interest in visiting the country. “What do I need from Tanzania that I can’t get in Kenya? I haven’t even exchanged a single Tanzanian shilling,” he quipped, downplaying the significance of the incident.

This incident adds to the already tense relations Babu Owino has with neighboring countries. Previously, in May 2019, Uganda banned Owino from entering the country after he hosted Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine in Kenya. The Ugandan government cited Owino’s involvement in allegedly inciteful statements against President Yoweri Museveni’s administration. Owino confirmed his ban, saying, “If I go to Uganda, I am banned. I cannot enter Uganda,” underscoring his unyielding political stance.

Babu’s demand for an apology from President Suluhu signals his refusal to let the matter rest without accountability, further fueling debates on political relations and freedom of movement in East Africa.