Trump Blocks Kimambi Extradition, Issues Ultimatum: Free Tundu Lissu and 72 Political Prisoners

The Trump administration has reportedly refused to extradite a Tanzanian activist and instead issued demands for the release of opposition figures, according to sources familiar with diplomatic exchanges between Washington and Dar es Salaam, escalating tensions between the two nations over Tanzania’s contentious election and human rights record.

ALSO READ: Tanzania Allegedly Seeks U.S. Cooperation to Send Back Activist Mange Kimambi Amid Post-Election Crackdown

Unconfirmed Reports of US Intervention

According to unverified sources, the United States government under President Donald Trump has declined Tanzania’s extradition request for Mange Kimambi, a prominent activist living in the US, and has allegedly issued a directive demanding the immediate release of opposition leader Tundu Lissu and 72 other political prisoners currently detained in Tanzania.

The alleged US demands come as Tanzania faces mounting international condemnation over violence against protesters and what observers have characterized as fundamentally flawed elections. Neither the US State Department nor the White House has publicly confirmed these reports, and attempts to reach officials for comment were unsuccessful at time of publication.

If confirmed, such intervention would mark a significant diplomatic confrontation between the two countries and signal a hardline stance by the Trump administration on democratic governance in East Africa.

Tanzania Pursues Extradition of Activist

Tanzania’s newly appointed Attorney General Hamza Said Johari initiated efforts to extradite Kimambi just one day after taking office on November 5, directing Tanzanian authorities to coordinate with their US counterparts. The move has drawn fierce criticism from citizens who accuse the government of prioritizing silencing critics over addressing allegations of state violence.

Kimambi responded defiantly on Instagram, challenging the government’s priorities: “You’ve killed thousands of Tanzanian youths, but you’re after Mange, not the killers or those who ordered the killers”. She dismissed the likelihood of US cooperation, citing First Amendment protections for political speech.

Legal experts say Tanzania’s extradition request faces steep diplomatic and legal hurdles, as the US-Tanzania treaty primarily covers criminal offenses, not political speech or activism protected under the US Constitution’s First Amendment.

Opposition Leader Remains in Custody

Opposition leader Tundu Lissu was arrested on April 9, 2025, and charged with treason following a political rally, with police using excessive force including teargas and live fire to disperse supporters. Since treason is a capital offense, Lissu cannot be released on bail and remains in custody, with his trial postponed multiple times.

The alleged US demand for his release, if accurate, would represent unprecedented diplomatic pressure on President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s government. Human rights organizations have characterized Lissu’s detention as politically motivated persecution of the opposition.

International Bodies Condemn Election

The African Union’s election monitoring arm concluded that Tanzania’s October 2025 General Election failed to comply with AU principles, normative frameworks, and international standards for democratic elections. The AU pointed to ballot stuffing, government-imposed internet blackout, allegations of excessive military force, and politically-motivated abductions as “compromising election integrity,” stating that “voters could not express their democratic will.”

The European Union issued a statement calling for “release of all detained politicians and for a transparent and fair trial of those arrested on a sound legal basis and for swift and thorough investigations into all reported incidents of abductions, disappearances and violence.”

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights reported that Tanzanian police and military have used tear gas and firearms to disperse protesters and that at least 10 people have died. Opposition sources claim significantly higher casualty figures, though these remain unverified.

Election Results Widely Disputed

President Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared the landslide winner with 98% of the vote after her main challengers were barred from competing. Tanzania’s electoral body disqualified the opposition party Chadema from participating after party officials refused to sign the 2025 Election Code of Ethics until the government undertook electoral reforms.

Citizens have reacted with outrage to the Attorney General’s focus on extraditing Kimambi, with many accusing President Hassan’s government of deflecting from allegations of massacres and electoral fraud. Social media platforms have been flooded with criticism despite government attempts to control online discourse.

The government has defended its actions, with President Hassan urging citizens to move past the election and focus on national rebuilding. However, the unconfirmed reports of US diplomatic intervention suggest Tanzania’s post-election crisis may be entering a new, more confrontational phase on the international stage.

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