TANZANIA: WHEREABOUTS OF GOVERNMENT CRITIC UNKNOWN

Dear President Samia Suluhu Hassan,

I am writing to express grave concern about the enforced disappearance of Humphrey Polepole, an outspoken government critic and a former Tanzanian ambassador to Cuba who has criticized President Samia Suluhu Hassan and the ruling party CCM for restrictions on civic space, crackdown on human rights, and attacks on opposition including the jailing of opposition politician Tundu Lissu.

On October 6, he was abducted from his residence in Dar es Salaam by unidentified security agents. Family and friends of Humphrey Polepole have been unable to reach him since. To date, his whereabouts remain unknown.

On October 6, police spokesperson David Misime issued a statement stating that the police were investigating what had happened. On October 7, Humphrey Polepole’s lawyers filed a habeas corpus application at the High Court in Dar es Salaam. It was dismissed on October 24 after the judge ruled that there was no evidence proving that the Tanzanian authorities were responsible for Humphrey Polepole’s disappearance.

Humphrey Polepole appears to have been targeted by the Tanzanian authorities because he is an outspoken government critic. His enforced disappearance adds to a growing list of cases of enforced disappearances, crackdown on peaceful dissent, and other authoritarian practices in Tanzania.

I urge your government to immediately disclose the fate and whereabouts of Humphrey Polepole and release him if he is in your custody. Pending his release, ensure that he is protected from torture and other ill-treatment and granted access to his family, a lawyer of his choice, and adequate healthcare. Finally, I urge you to end the use of enforced disappearances to crack down on peaceful dissent.

Yours sincerely,

[YOUR NAME]