The famous Tanzanian activist Maria Sarungi Tsehai who was kidnapped by armed men in Kenya said she has been released, hours after the incident happened.
Amnesty International Kenya spokesperson Roland Ebole told the BBC that he was “forced” into a car in the capital Nairobi on Sunday afternoon.
But Ms Tsehai was released hours later. He shared the video to his 1.3 million followers on X, looking shaken and emotional, but said: “I'm saved.”
Ms Tsehai is a staunch critic of Tanzania's President, Samia Suluhu Hassan, and has accused his government of restoring “dictatorship” to the country.
The president of the Law Society of Kenya, Faith Odhiambo, said that X was able to arrange his release.
“We are sending a warning. We will not allow our country to be used as a place to pick up people,” he said at an evening press conference.
Neither Kenyan nor Tanzanian officials have commented.
Ms. Tsehai is a fierce advocate for human rights and freedom of expression in Tanzania.
There have been concerns that Tanzania may return to the repressive regime of the late President Mamutuli, although his successor Samia has lifted the law banning opposition gatherings and promised to restore competitive politics.
Last year, a number of dissidents were arrested and some were brutally killed. Another senior opposition leader died after being doused with acid.
Human Rights Watch described the increase in arrests of opposition activists as a “bad sign” ahead of the 2025 presidential election, which will be held in October.
Change Tanzania, an organization founded by Mrs Tsehai, said in a statement to X that they believe she was taken by Tanzanian security forces “operating across Tanzania's borders to silence legitimate criticism of the government.”
It added that “his courage to stand up for justice has made him a victim”.
In recent months, he has expressed concern for his safety, reporting on an incident where two unknown men were seen looking for him in his home while he was away.
Kenya has a history of allowing foreign governments to abduct its citizens and forcibly deport them, in violation of international law.
Last year, the leader of the Ugandan opposition, Kizza Besigye, was kidnapped in Nairobi by Ugandan security officials and crossed the border to be tried by a military court.
The Ugandan government has claimed that Kenya helped them in the process – but the Kenyan government denies this.
Mr Ebole told the BBC that “it could be another repeat” of Mr Besigye's situation.
Internally, Kenya is facing a wave of disappearances, following last year's youth-led protests against a series of tax hikes.
A government-backed rights group says more than 80 people have been kidnapped in the past six months.
A few have been released in recent weeks, while calls for the release of all the hostages are increasing.
You may also be interested in:
Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.
Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfricaon Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
