Tanzania President Samia Suluhu during a past event/FILETanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has once again strongly defended her recent actions against what she described as "outsiders" aiming to destabilise the country.
Speaking during the swearing-in ceremony of new government officials at State House in Dar es Salaam on Saturday, May 24, 2025, Suluhu reaffirmed her commitment to safeguarding her nation's sovereignty and interests.
This, as she urged both the government officials and citizens to remain vigilant and proactive in protecting the nation from negative external influences.
"The duty to protect this country is not mine alone, nor is it solely that of the defense and security forces, it is the responsibility of all of us," she stated in Swahili.
Suluhu noted that Tanzania is a shared national treasure inherited from previous generations, hence the need to preserve it at all costs.
"Hii ndiyo rasilimali yetu tuliyoachiwa, hatuna nyingine, naomba mkailinde (Please protect your country, this is our only resource; we have no other. Go and safeguard it)," she implored.
She warned that if unchecked, those seeking to cause disruption may try to infiltrate ministries and national institutions.
"If they don’t succeed directly, they will target our ministries and agencies. I urge you to protect our nation,” she said.
Her statement came on a day the United States called for an immediate and thorough investigation into the alleged mistreatment of two activists-Uganda's Agather Atuhaire and Boniface Mwangi from Kenya—during their recent detention in Tanzania.
In a statement released through the Bureau of African Affairs, the US expressed its concern over the alleged reports of human rights violations.
"The United States is deeply concerned by reports of the mistreatment in Tanzania of two East African activists,” the statement reads in part.
They had traveled to Tanzania to support opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who is facing treason charges.
Both activists were later found abandoned near their respective borders, with reports indicating signs of torture and abuse during their captivity.
Last Monday, Suluhu warned that she would not allow activists from neighbouring countries to "meddle" in her country's affairs and cause "chaos."
