DistantNews
Support us
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Elections & Politics

Pan-African NGO coalition demands release of Ugandan and Tanzanian opposition leaders

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Newswire Named sources In the courts
  • A coalition of human rights NGOs marched in Nairobi to demand the release of Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye and Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu.
  • The activists accused Kenyan officials of allowing and coordinating Besigye’s alleged illegal detention and transfer from Nairobi to Uganda.
  • The coalition said it would intensify its campaign within seven days if its demands were not met.

Nearly 30 activists marched through central Nairobi on Thursday, carrying a stark message for Kenya’s government: release Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye and Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu.

The Pan-African Solidarity Network stopped outside Kenya’s Interior and Foreign Affairs ministries, where it delivered petitions calling for Kenyan intervention. Both Besigye and Lissu face treason proceedings in their respective countries.

We will march to Uganda and organize national demonstrations together with our comrades in Uganda to demand the immediate release of Comrade Kizza Besigye.

· Mulinge MutetiThe coalition spokesperson described planned action if its demands were not met.

The coalition accused Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen, Foreign Affairs Minister Musalia Mudavadi, Defence Minister Soipan Tuya and National Intelligence Service Director-General Noordin Haji of “allowing and coordinating” Besigye’s alleged illegal detention and transfer from Nairobi to Uganda. Protesters held signs reading: “Kidnapped in Kenya. Persecuted and dying in Uganda. Save Kizza Besigye.”

Just as Kenya cooperated to bring Besigye to the brink of death, we expect it to apply that same diplomatic cooperation to save his life. Otherwise, there will be more blood on the hands of the Kenyan government.

· Mwanase AhmedAhmed criticized Kenya’s alleged role in Besigye’s detention and called for diplomatic action.

Other posters displayed the faces of Kenyan President William Ruto, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and Museveni’s son, Uganda’s armed forces chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba. The posters labeled them “The illegal handover alliance.”

The activists read a statement saying they would step up their campaign if their demands were not met within seven days. “We will march to Uganda and organize national demonstrations together with our comrades in Uganda to demand the immediate release of Comrade Kizza Besigye,” said Mulinge Muteti, a network spokesperson.

If the Kenyan government receives pressure from the European Union or the United States, that pressure will ensure that both Besigye and Tundu Lissu are released.

· Benard MuyaMuya called for international pressure on Kenya.

Another spokesperson, Mwanase Ahmed, said Kenya should use diplomatic cooperation to save Besigye’s life, after allegedly helping place him in danger. The group also demanded the immediate withdrawal of all charges against Lissu. Benard Muya called for pressure from the international community, while Fredrick Otieno of Vocal Africa warned that Kenya was following its neighbors by detaining opposition figures to restrict their freedom and democratic activity. Besigye, a 70-year-old former army colonel and presidential candidate in fragile health, is awaiting trial in prison on treason charges, a crime punishable by death.

Kenya is going down the same path as Uganda and Tanzania by detaining opposition figures to take away their freedom and prevent democracy from developing.

· Fredrick OtienoOtieno warned that Kenya was adopting similar practices to its neighbors.
About this summary

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

More Stories

From Our Blog