This archive report was first published on 30 July 2019.
On July 29, 2019, Tanzanian police detained journalist Erick Kabendera, a freelance writer for various local and international publications, including The EastAfrican, over suspicions surrounding his citizenship.
According to Dar es Salaam Special Zone Police Commander Lazaro Mambosasa, Kabendera was provided with a formal police summons but refused to comply, leading to his arrest on Monday evening.
“Kabendera was arrested -- not abducted -- on Monday due to suspicions surrounding his citizenship,” Commander Mambosasa said in a press conference on Tuesday afternoon.
As of Tuesday, Kabendera was being held at the Central Police Station in Dar es Salaam’s city centre, with Commander Mambosasa stating that further information would be provided once the investigation is complete.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) had earlier expressed concern for Kabendera's safety, urging Tanzanian police to disclose his whereabouts.
