Abducted Tanzanian opposition official found dead, acid poured on his face

Tuesday, September 10, 2024 - The body of Ally Kibao, a senior opposition figure from Tanzania’s main opposition party, Chadema, was discovered on the outskirts of Dar es Salaam, showing signs of severe beating and acid burns to his face, according to party officials.

Kibao, a member of Chadema’s secretariat, was abducted by armed men from a bus en route to the northeastern city of Tanga.

His death has raised concerns over the political climate in Tanzania, potentially tarnishing the reformist image of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who has sought to reduce state repression since taking office after the death of former President John Magufuli three years ago.

Chadema chairman Freeman Mbowe revealed that Kibao's body was found on Saturday morning and expressed outrage at the brutal nature of the killing. “The (preliminary) post-mortem has been done, and it is obvious that Ally Kibao has been killed after being severely beaten and having acid poured on his face,” Mbowe told journalists, noting that a full autopsy is expected on Monday.

In response to the killing, President Hassan condemned the act and ordered an investigation into what she called an "assassination." "Our country is democratic and every citizen has the right to live. The government I lead does not tolerate such brutal acts," she wrote on social media platform X.

Police confirmed that an investigation was underway into the "tragic incident." However, Mbowe urged the president to form a judicial commission to investigate Kibao’s death and other similar cases, alleging that police were among the suspects involved in the abduction.

The incident follows rising tensions between the government and Chadema. Last month, over 500 Chadema supporters, including top party leaders, were briefly detained while attempting to attend a youth wing meeting in the country's southwest.

While President Hassan has implemented some reforms to ease restrictions on the media and political opposition, human rights organizations claim that arbitrary detentions and political harassment remain prevalent in Tanzania.