Enforced disappearances: I fear for my life too - Haki Africa Director Khalid

Haki Africa executive director Hussein Khalid has said he fears for his life as cases of enforced disappearances continue to rise.

He said he has decided to speak about his fears as he believes going public is “an act of self-protection”.

“Every morning my wife tells me, I don’t know if you will come back in the evening, you could be the next one to disappear,” he said.

“Sometimes going public helps,” said Khalid.

Khalid said the rise in the number of enforced disappearances cases was worrying.  

“This year alone, and it has not ended yet, we have had 46 cases, nine have since returned, 37 are still missing, we don’t know where they are, and the number is still rising,” said Khalid.

“We always keep the records, we have the statistics, and we believe that justice will be done one day,” he said.

He said many families are in pain and the government is not willing to investigate such cases well. He pointed an accusing finger at the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU).

Khalid said the United Nations has written to the government on issues enforced disappearances.

At the same time, he expressed fears of increased human rights violations ahead of the 2022 general elections.

He noted that with a new president expected in, and about 21 governors also being replaced, political competition will be stiff.

Khalid said this heightened political competition is likely going to make some politicians reawaken criminal gangs to advance their political agenda during the electioneering period.

Haki Africa recorded 18 disappearances at the Coast last year and 11 in 2019. Muhuri has so far recorded 17 this year alone, and the trend is worrying. 

But police deny the numbers, saying officers in all the departments are held personally accountable, faulting the lobbies for condemning police blanketly. 

Edited by D Tarus