Tanzania President, Samia Suluhu, has criticised foreign activists who she accused of meddling in her country’s affairs as the treason trial of opposition leader, and her potential challenger in the October elections, Tundu Lissu proceeded on Monday, May 19.

Speaking at the launch of Tanzania Foreign Policy 2024, the president urged the country’s authorities to look out for ‘bad actors’ seeking entry into the country to upset the peace.

“I’d like to plead with our security agencies, and those in charge of our foreign policy, to not give room for those who misbehave in other countries to come and do the same here. No,” remarked Samia.

She further said: “We are seeing a trend where activists from our region want to meddle in our internal affairs. If they have been unsuccessful back home, let them not come to cause havoc here.”

The speech marked the first time the soft spoken leader directly addressed instances where six Kenyan activists who had travelled from Nairobi to Dar es Salaam to show solidarity with Lissu were denied entry.

The besieged opposition leader faces a death penalty should he be found guilty of treason.

On Sunday, May 18, immigration officers at the Julius Nyerere International Airport detained People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua  and human rights defenders, Lynn Ngugi and Gloria Kimani, before deporting them after a six-hour wait.

Similarly, former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, activist Hanifa Adan and VOCAL Africa CEO Hussein  Khalid were denied entry.

Another activist, Boniface Mwangi, gained entry but claimed to have been arrested by police soon after checking into his hotel room. 

“We’ve heard reports that Boniface Mwangi is being detained under Section 45 of the Immigration Act dealing with refusal to give information to immigration officers,” said Khalid, adding, “We would like to tell the government of Tanzania to release him as fast as possible.”

Despite the arrests and deportations, former Chief Justice David Maraga, and a host of other Kenyans, were allowed into the country and were present when Lissu appeared in court.

Meanwhile, President Samia has vowed to crackdown on any person deemed to be a threat to Tanzania’s peace.

“I’ve watched clips where I’m accused of bias. All I’m doing is to protect my country which is my mandate. We won’t allow any being to cause chaos here, whether they are within the country or coming from outside,” she warned.