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Ally Kibao, abducted Tanzanian opposition leader found dead, acid poured on face

The body of a senior Tanzanian opposition official abducted from a bus by armed men was found on the outskirts of commercial capital Dar es Salaam with signs he had been beaten and acid had been poured on his face, his party said.

The killing of Ally Kibao, a member of the secretariat of the main opposition Chadema party, may taint the reformist image of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who has tried to ease repression since succeeding John Magafuli, who died in office three years ago.

Kibao’s body was found on Saturday morning, a day after two armed men removed him from a bus travelling from Dar es Salaam to the north-eastern port city of Tanga, Chadema chairman Freeman Mbowe told journalists late on Sunday.

“The (preliminary) post-mortem has been done and it is obvious that Ally Kibao has been killed after being severely beaten and even having acid poured on his face,” Mr Mbowe said, adding that a full autopsy report would be completed on Monday.

President Hassan said she had ordered an investigation into what she described as Kibao’s assassination.

“Our country is democratic, and every citizen has the right to live. The government I lead does not tolerate such brutal acts,” she wrote on X on Sunday.

The body of a senior Tanzanian opposition official abducted from a bus by armed men was found on the outskirts of commercial capital Dar es Salaam with signs he had been beaten and acid had been poured on his face, his party said.

The killing of Ally Kibao, a member of the secretariat of the main opposition Chadema party, may taint the reformist image of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who has tried to ease repression since succeeding John Magafuli, who died in office three years ago.

Kibao’s body was found on Saturday morning, a day after two armed men removed him from a bus travelling from Dar es Salaam to the north-eastern port city of Tanga, Chadema chairman Freeman Mbowe told journalists late on Sunday.

“The (preliminary) post-mortem has been done and it is obvious that Ally Kibao has been killed after being severely beaten and even having acid poured on his face,” Mr Mbowe said, adding that a full autopsy report would be completed on Monday.

President Hassan said she had ordered an investigation into what she described as Kibao’s assassination.

“Our country is democratic, and every citizen has the right to live. The government I lead does not tolerate such brutal acts,” she wrote on X on Sunday.

Police said in a statement they were investigating the “tragic incident”.

Mr Mbowe urged the President to form a judicial commission to investigate abductions and the killing of Kibao because, he said, police were among the suspects in the case.

Kibao’s death comes a month after police arrested and briefly detained more than 500 Chadema supporters, including their top leadership, as they attempted to gather for a meeting of the party’s youth wing in the southwest of the country.

President Hassan has taken some steps to ease restrictions on the media and opposition since coming to power, but rights groups say arbitrary detentions have continued.

 

Source: theeastafrican.co.ke

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. In addition to his media ventures, Solomon serves as a Brand Ambassador for Alabuga, a prominent Russian industrial company, representing their interests and expansion across Africa. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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