James Risch, U.S Senator for Idaho, has questioned the rising cases of abductions and torture in East Africa.
In a statement on Thursday, May 29, Risch, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the cases of abductions and torture are a threat to regional stability and U.S. interests.
“Rising abductions and torture in East Africa signal more than abuse – they expose state decay and impunity.
"That’s a direct threat to regional stability, security, and U.S. interests,” Senator Risch stated.
This comes days after the US government, through its Bureau of African Affairs, called for investigations into allegations of human rights abuses involving activists Boniface Mwangi and Agather Atuhaire in Tanzania.
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“The United States is deeply concerned by reports of the mistreatment in Tanzania of two East African activists – Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire and Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi.
“We call for an immediate and full investigation into the allegations of human rights abuses. We urge all countries in the region to hold to account those responsible for violating human rights, including torture,” the bureau stated.
Mwangi and Agather were arrested by Tanzania authorities and held in an unknown location for days after they travelled to the East African nation to observe court proceedings of Tanzanian opposition figure Tundu Lissu, who is charged with treason.
Mwangi resurfaced on May 22 in Ukunda, Kwale County, after being deported from Tanzania.
The activist disclosed that they were treated inhumanely and were tortured during their detention.
“I have gone through four very dark days, I have been tortured very badly, I can barely walk,” Mwangi revealed.
“We had been tortured, and we were told to strip naked and to go bathe. We couldn't walk and were told to crawl and go wash off the blood."
On the other hand, Agather was found at the Mutukula border between Tanzania and Uganda.
