East African Law Society Condemns Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania Over Abductions and Enforced Disappearances

The East Africa Law Society (EALS) has expressed concern over the resurgence of human rights violations across the East African region, citing abductions, enforced disappearances, torture, and extrajudicial killings as growing threats to the rule of law.

In a statement released on December 31, 2024, EALS condemned these acts, which it described as primarily targeting political dissidents, journalists, activists, and young people protesting against governance failures.

“The violations are characterised by clandestine abductions, enforced disappearances, torture of victims, and, in extreme cases, extrajudicial killings. These heinous acts erode gains made in promoting human rights and the rule of law,” the statement read

In Kenya, the society highlighted 82 abduction cases since the Gen-Z-led protests in June 2024, with 29 of the victims still unaccounted for.

December alone saw 13 reported abductions, raising alarms about escalating repression.

In Tanzania, political intolerance has intensified, with high-profile cases such as the murders of opposition figures, the abduction of Aisha Machano a senior opposition party official and acid attacks on activists.

Young people planning to celebrate International Youth Day were also reportedly arrested in large numbers.

Uganda has witnessed a troubling rise in human rights abuses, with reports of individuals being detained in illegal “safe houses” and subjected to brutal torture.

The EALS cited enforced disappearances as a tool of political repression, particularly during politically sensitive periods.

A recent cross-border incident involving the abduction of Ugandan opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye in Nairobi, Kenya, and his subsequent arraignment in a Ugandan military court underscored the growing complexity of these violations.

Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Somalia also face similar issues, with governments and non-state actors employing enforced disappearances and violence as methods of control.

In South Sudan, ongoing conflict exacerbates the problem, while in the DRC and Somalia, state and non-state actors alike engage in widespread violence against civilians.

“These continued patterns of abductions, enforced disappearances, torture, and extrajudicial killings contravene the fundamental principles of the East African Community as provided for under Article 6 of the Treaty Establishing the Community. They signal a denial of justice and undermine public trust in government institutions,” the EALS noted.

The statement also criticized the inadequate enforcement of domestic and international legal frameworks designed to protect citizens from such violations.

While most East African countries are signatories to key treaties like the UN Convention Against Torture (UNCAT) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the failure to ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (ICPPED) has left significant gaps in regional human rights protection.

“The situation has reached a critical point. These acts are not only violations of individual rights but also attacks on the very fabric of regional unity and human dignity,” EALS President Ramadhan Abubakar said.

EALS has outlined several recommendations to address these violations.

It called for the immediate release of all abductees, an end to cross-border abductions, and the ratification of the ICPPED.

It also urged governments to prioritize security sector reforms, including comprehensive human rights training for security forces and the establishment of mechanisms to investigate misconduct.

“We urge East African Community Partner States to act decisively and fast in upholding commitments to human rights and the rule of law. Failure to do so undermines public trust and threatens regional stability,” the statement emphasized.

The society further called for the establishment of independent oversight bodies with the power to investigate abductions and enforced disappearances transparently and impartially.

It also proposed a high-level summit to adopt enforceable measures against these violations and urged governments to engage civil society in addressing the crisis.

The East Africa Law Society reiterated its commitment to providing legal support to victims and holding perpetrators accountable.

“We remain dedicated to protecting human rights and the rule of law in the region. We shall continue to provide oversight and are ready to take legal action for non-compliance,” the statement concluded.

The EALS, established in 1995, is the umbrella organization for national bar associations in East Africa, including the Law Society of Kenya, Tanganyika Law Society, Uganda Law Society, and others.