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

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania — Allegations have emerged that Tanzanian authorities are seeking the arrest and extradition of Mange Kimambi, a U.S.-based activist known for her outspoken criticism of the government, over social media posts made following the country’s disputed October 29, 2025, presidential election.

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According to reports circulating in regional media, senior Tanzanian officials, allegedly including Chief Justice Ibrahim Juma and Attorney General Hamza Saidi Johari, have called for legal action against Kimambi over posts alleging government violence and electoral fraud in the aftermath of the controversial poll.

Disputed Election Results Spark Controversy

President Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared the winner of the October 2025 election with an overwhelming 98% of the vote, a result that opposition parties and civil society groups have fiercely contested, citing widespread irregularities and allegations of rigging.

The election period was marked by a severe crackdown on protests and dissent. Human Rights Watch has reported that hundreds of deaths resulted from the government’s response to demonstrations, though official figures have not been independently verified.

Opposition leaders and international observers have raised concerns about the electoral process, pointing to restrictions on opposition campaigning, media censorship, and allegations of ballot stuffing.

Jurisdictional Questions Raised

Legal experts have questioned the jurisdiction and legal basis for any potential charges against Kimambi, noting that she allegedly made the disputed social media posts from the United States, where she resides and holds citizenship.

“The extraterritorial application of Tanzanian law to speech made by a U.S. citizen on American soil raises significant legal and diplomatic questions,” said one international law expert who requested anonymity. “Such cases typically require strong evidence of criminal activity beyond mere criticism of government actions.”

The allegations of extradition efforts have drawn regional criticism, with human rights organizations characterizing the reported moves as part of a broader pattern of attempts to silence dissent and curtail freedom of expression in Tanzania.

Pattern of Transnational Repression Alleged

Kimambi has been a prominent critic of successive Tanzanian governments and has previously faced legal challenges from authorities. In 2024, she was accused by Tanzanian officials of money laundering, charges her supporters dismissed as politically motivated.

Human rights organizations have documented what they describe as an increasing trend of African governments pursuing critics and activists who have fled abroad, using legal mechanisms and international cooperation frameworks to extend their reach beyond national borders.

“This represents a concerning trend of transnational repression where governments attempt to silence diaspora voices through legal intimidation and extradition requests,” said a spokesperson for a regional human rights organization.

International Response

The allegations have sparked debate about the limits of free speech protections for activists living abroad and the potential for abuse of extradition treaties to target political opponents and critics.

U.S. State Department officials have not yet commented on the reported extradition request or any formal diplomatic communication from Tanzanian authorities regarding Kimambi.

Tanzania’s government has not issued an official statement confirming or denying the alleged extradition efforts at the time of publication.

Background on Post-Election Crisis

The October 2025 election took place amid heightened political tensions in Tanzania, with opposition parties alleging systematic suppression of their campaigns and supporters. International election observers reported restrictions on their activities and limited access to polling stations in some regions.

The reported deaths during post-election protests, if confirmed, would represent one of the deadliest crackdowns on political demonstrations in Tanzania’s recent history.

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