This archive report was first published on 28 August 2019.
On August 28, 2019, a tense standoff unfolded in Dar es Salaam as Tanzanian riot police dispersed protesters demanding the release of an Air Tanzania aircraft impounded in South Africa.
The police, armed with a red banner warning protesters to leave or face ejection, arrived at the South African High Commission and broke up the demonstration.
Protesters held banners with messages like 'Remember we (Tanzania) sacrificed the little we had to support your (South Africa) struggle against apartheid and today you betray us?'
They also chanted 'Tunataka ndege yetu...tunataka ndege yetu' (We want our plane back...we want our plane back).
South African authorities had impounded the Airbus 220-300 aircraft at Oliver Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg over an outstanding compensation claim against the Tanzanian government, filed by a retired South African farmer.
According to Dar es Salaam special zone police commander Lazaro Mambosasa, the organizers of the protest would be arrested 'as quickly as possible' for not presenting their demands through proper channels.
