Former CJ Willy Mutunga Detained at Tanzanian Airport as Armed Men Raid Boniface Mwangi’s Hotel in Dar es Salaam

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania — In a dramatic escalation of tensions surrounding the trial of Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu, former Kenyan Chief Justice Willy Mutunga and two prominent activists were detained at Julius Nyerere International Airport upon their arrival in Dar es Salaam.

The incident occurred as armed men simultaneously raided the hotel room of Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi in the city.

Mutunga, accompanied by activists Hanifa Adan and Hussein Khalid, had traveled to observe Lissu’s treason trial, which stems from the opposition leader’s calls for electoral reforms ahead of Tanzania’s October 2025 general elections.

The trial, scheduled to begin Monday, carries potential death penalty charges.

“We have been detained at Julius Nyerere Airport, and they have not given us any reasons for this action,” a representative of Mutunga stated via social media shortly after the detention.

The former Chief Justice, a respected figure in East African legal circles, was part of a solidarity mission with Tanzanian lawyers and human rights defenders.

Their detention without explanation has raised serious concerns about the fairness of Lissu’s trial and Tanzania’s political climate.

This incident follows the deportation of Martha Karua, a leading Kenyan lawyer, former Justice Minister, and potential 2027 presidential candidate, earlier on Sunday.

Karua, who had intended to observe Lissu’s trial, was detained for three hours at Dar es Salaam airport before being put on a flight back to Nairobi. She had previously been allowed entry in April, highlighting what critics describe as inconsistent and selective treatment of international observers.

“We were detained for no offense, for merely seeking to go and stand in solidarity and to observe the trial of Tundu Lissu,” Karua stated upon her return to Nairobi airport on Sunday.

Lissu’s party, CHADEMA, has been disqualified from the upcoming presidential and legislative elections scheduled for October. The party reportedly refused to sign an electoral code of conduct, having demanded electoral reforms and accused President Hassan of returning to the repressive tactics of past rulers.

Karua’s People’s Liberation Party denounced her treatment in a statement, calling it “not only an affront to their personal dignity and fundamental freedoms but also a blatant violation of the principles of the East African Community (EAC), of which both Kenya and Tanzania are founding members.”

Human rights organizations have responded swiftly to these developments.

“The arbitrary detention of high-profile figures like Mutunga and the intimidation of activists like Mwangi are deeply worrying signs of the deteriorating situation in Tanzania,” said Sarah Jackson, Deputy Regional Director for East Africa at Amnesty International. The organization has called on Tanzanian authorities to respect human rights and halt what they describe as a crackdown on civic space.

These events unfold against a backdrop of growing political tension in Tanzania.

Recent reports indicate that over 100 members of CHADEMA, Tanzania’s main opposition party, were arrested in the Iringa region alone as part of what critics view as a broader strategy to suppress dissent ahead of the elections.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration has faced accusations of intensifying restrictions on political opposition—claims the government denies.

The detention of Mutunga and his colleagues, coupled with the raid on Mwangi’s hotel, has raised concerns about cross-border political interference and the safety of activists throughout the East African Community.

As Lissu’s trial proceeds, international observers remain vigilant, advocating for transparency and fairness in Tanzania’s judicial process.

The detention of prominent legal figures and intimidation of activists highlight concerns about democracy and human rights in the region, prompting renewed calls for accountability and respect for the rule of law.

This story is developing.