After an Acid Attack, a Tanzanian Opposition Official Died

The leading opposition party in Tanzania claims that an official who vanished last week has been discovered dead with evidence of beatings and acid poured on his face.

In a statement published on X, President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who has eased previous limitations on the opposition in the East African country, swiftly denounced the death and declared that her administration does not support such atrocities.

Ali Kibao, a member of the CHADEMA party secretariat, was kidnapped by armed men on Friday while riding a bus from Dar es Salaam, the commercial center, to Tanga, a port city. Opposition leader Freeman Mbowe claimed late on Sunday that his body was discovered on Saturday.

Mbowe asked the president to establish a commission to look into Kibao’s death and stated that an autopsy would be performed on Monday. In her message, the president said she had requested a thorough report from the investigative agencies.

The opposition is in favor of a separate inquiry.

Mbowe informed the mourners on Monday that “it is impossible for the same police who are the suspects to investigate this matter.”

In Tanzania, where some opposition figures have previously been shot or physically attacked, acid attacks are uncommon.