DAR ES SALAAM – Amnesty International has raised the alarm over the abduction of Tanzanian YouTuber and government critic Tundu Lissu Polepole, condemning the incident as part of a wider pattern of enforced disappearances by state security forces.
Polepole was reportedly seized by unidentified armed men from his home in the Mbezi Luis area on the night of October 5, 2025. The human rights organization is calling for his immediate and safe release.
“The disappearance of Tundu Lissu Polepole follows an alarming pattern of enforced disappearances in Tanzania, where people are taken by unidentified individuals, often never to be seen again,” said Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa.
Chagutah strongly criticized the Tanzanian government for its “disregard of justice, the rule of law, and constitutional principles.” He added, “Far too many people have disappeared in Tanzania over the recent years without any accountability. Authorities must bring this impunity to an end.”
The Polepole family reported the incident to the Mbezi Police Station on October 6, and his lawyer filed a habeas corpus application in court the following day, demanding that the authorities produce him. Family members told Amnesty that during a subsequent police investigation, officers removed several items from Polepole’s home, including his printer and a safe.
Police spokesperson David Misime offered a different account, stating that Polepole had been summoned to appear before the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) concerning unspecified allegations made on social media but had failed to comply. Authorities have said they are working to verify the authenticity of the abduction claims.
A Pattern of Repression
This incident occurs against a backdrop of repeated accusations against Tanzanian security forces. In June 2025, UN human rights experts called on the government to “immediately stop the enforced disappearance of political opponents, human rights defenders and journalists, as a tool of repression in the electoral context.”
Enforced disappearance, a crime under international law, involves the detention of individuals by state agents or their allies, followed by a refusal to acknowledge the detention or reveal the person’s fate or whereabouts.
The case of Tundu Lissu Polepole echoes the fates of numerous other Tanzanians who have vanished under similar circumstances. Among those still missing are Anthony Gabriel, Daniel Chonchorio, and journalist Dioniz Kipanya, whose continued absence underscores a severe accountability crisis within the country’s security apparatus.
