Old Habits

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Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan condemned the brutal killing of a senior opposition politician this week, a death that sparked outrage in the East African nation and renewed fears of a political crackdown a year before general elections, the Associated Press reported.

Ali Kibao, a senior member of the CHADEMA opposition party, went missing Friday when he was forced off a bus by suspected security agents while traveling from the commercial hub Dar es Salaam to the port city of Tanga.

His body was found a day later near Dar es Salaam with signs of severe beatings and acid burns on his face.

Hassan has ordered an in-depth investigation into Kibao’s death, adding that her administration does not condone such violence. She reaffirmed Tanzania’s commitment to democracy, emphasizing that “every citizen has the right to live,” the BBC noted.

Meanwhile, CHADEMA leader Freeman Mbowe said an autopsy is taking place on Kibao’s body on Monday and called on the president to form an independent commission to probe the death.

Kibao’s killing has intensified concerns about political repression in Tanzania, especially with the 2025 presidential election approaching. The opposition and rights groups fear a return to the oppressive climate of the late President John Magufuli’s rule, where political violence and crackdowns were more frequent.

Hassan has lifted some of the restrictions of her predecessor’s administration, including bans on opposition gatherings.

However, recent events have added to fears that the government might be slipping back into its authoritarian habits: Last month, authorities arrested Mbowe and his deputy Tundu Lissu when they attempted to hold a youth rally, which the police claimed was intended to incite violence.