Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has condemned the murder of Mohamed Ali Kibao, 69, a senior member of the opposition party Chadema, who was abducted, beaten, and doused with acid. Kibao was forced off a bus by suspected security agents on Friday while traveling from Dar es Salaam to Tanga. His body was later found in the Ununio district of Dar es Salaam, according to local reports.
A post-mortem revealed that Kibao had been severely beaten and had acid poured on his face, Chadema Chairman Freeman Mbowe told AFP. President Samia denounced the “brutal acts” and ordered a swift investigation, emphasizing that every citizen has the right to live in a democracy.
The U.S. Embassy in Tanzania has called for an independent and transparent inquiry into Kibao’s death. His killing has sparked widespread outrage, amid concerns over increasing attacks on opposition figures and reports of abductions and killings in the country.
Kibao, a retired military intelligence officer who joined Chadema in 2008, will be buried on Monday in Tanga’s Darigube district. The incident comes amid fears of a return to repressive tactics seen under the late President John Magufuli, despite President Samia’s pledges to restore political freedoms. Human Rights Watch recently warned of a concerning rise in arrests of opposition activists as the 2025 presidential elections approach.
