The Disappearance of Critics in Africa

The Disappearance of Critics in Africa The reactions of the governments involved range from silence and blanket denials ("the government has never looked for critics") to the defamation of the victims as tools of foreign powers. The international community, including the EU and the US State Department, has expressed its concern and called for the release of those detained. Human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and the Commonwealth Lawyers Association condemn the practice as a clear violation of international law and warn that enforced disappearances can be considered crimes against humanity. Amnesty International expressed deep concern about the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Dadiyata's disappearance and the emotional distress it is causing his family. The global human rights organization Amnesty International has reiterated its call for an investigation into the disappearance of activist Abubakar Idris, known as Dadiyata. Dadiyata, a social media commentator known for his critical views, was reportedly abducted from his home in Kaduna on August 2, 2019. Kaduna is a major state in northwestern Nigeria, with the city of Kaduna as its capital and economic center. It is an important political, military, and religious center, but also a hotspot for insecurity and debates about governance. His whereabouts have remained unknown ever since, causing great concern. The case of activist Abubakar Idris “Dadiyata” is a painful and unresolved chapter in Nigeria’s recent history. The lecturer and outspoken social media critic was abducted from his home in Kaduna State in August 2019 and has been missing ever since. His disappearance continues to be the subject of intense political controversy and conflicting accusations. The former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, denies any involvement by his government. He stated that Dadiyata did not criticize the Kaduna government, but rather the government of Kano State under Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje. El-Rufai claimed that Dadiyata was from Kano and a member of the Kwankwasiyya political movement. Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, the former governor of Kano State, firmly rejected these accusations, calling them "frivolous, unfounded, and a clear attempt to shift responsibility." His associates maintain that Dadiyata lived and worked in Kaduna, where he was known for his criticism of the Kaduna State government. Other public figures also spoke out. Former Senator Shehu Sani, a human rights activist from Kaduna, confirmed that Dadiyata was an outspoken critic of the government and the governor of Kaduna. Similarly, former presidential advisor Reno Omokri insisted that Dadiyata had been a critic of El-Rufai. He even shared alleged evidence, recalling a celebratory post from El-Rufai's son after the abduction. Daddyata has been missing ever since, and no conclusive findings from the investigation have been released. Daddyata is not the only one to disappear. The enforced disappearance of individuals is a common tactic in East Africa used to silence critics of the ruling class. The problem of enforced disappearances is not an isolated incident in East Africa, but rather a systematic and transnational phenomenon. It is part of a worrying trend in which governments in the region are increasingly cooperating to suppress dissent. The following cases from recent years illustrate the pattern and scale of these human rights violations. A Chronology of Enforced Disappearances (2024–2025) The table summarizes documented cases of abduction and enforced disappearance, documented by human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and media outlets such as the BBC. October 2025: Bob Njagi & Nicholas Oyoo (Kenyan activists), Kampala, Uganda. Abducted in Uganda after supporting opposition leader Bobi Wine. Released after five weeks. July 2025: Mwabili Mwagodi (Kenyan activist), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Abducted in Tanzania and later abandoned at the Kenyan border. Reported being given injections and subjected to interrogations. May 2025 Boniface Mwangi (Kenya) & Agather Atuhaire (Uganda) Tanzania: Entered Tanzania to observe the trial of Tundu Lissu, they were detained and tortured (including sexual torture). Apr 2025 Eddie Mutwe (security chief of the opposition NUP) Uganda: Kidnapped, held without communication, and tortured. January 2025 Maria Sarungi Tsehai (Tanzanian activist) Nairobi, Kenya: Kidnapped, abused, and strangled in Kenya. The alleged goal was to gain access to her social media accounts. January 2025 Members of the Lubaga Social Justice Centre Uganda: Held for 12 days in a "safe house," blindfolded, beaten, and interrogated. November 2024: Kizza Besigye (Ugandan opposition leader), Nairobi, Kenya. Kidnapped in Nairobi and taken to Uganda, where he was tried before a military court. July 2024: 36 members of the Forum for Democratic Change Kenya. Kidnapped in Kenya and deported to Uganda, where they faced trial before a military court. These cases are not isolated incidents but follow a clear pattern: A particularly alarming trend is the cross-border cooperation of security forces. Activists and opposition figures are not only persecuted in their own countries but are also deliberately kidnapped in neighboring countries. The kidnapping of Kizza Besigye in Kenya and Boniface Mwangi in Tanzania are clear examples of this. Human rights expert Martha Karua sees this as an attempt by regimes to view "their own citizens as a threat to their hold on power." These incidents are embedded in a broader strategy of intimidation. It encompasses not only kidnappings, but also torture, the targeted killing of protesters, arbitrary detentions, and internet shutdowns, particularly during elections. Human Rights Watch speaks of a "systematic and ongoing" setback for democracy and human rights in Africa. Who is affected? The victims are diverse, but deliberately targeted: opposition politicians like Tundu Lissu and Kizza Besigye, human rights activists like Boniface Mwangi, journalists like Maria Sarungi Tsehai, and young protesters from the "Gen Z" movement. The message is clear: any form of criticism or opposition can be threatened with disappearance. The role of the judiciary must be questioned, because instead of providing protection, the judiciary in many cases becomes part of the repression. Opposition leaders are tried before military courts, lawyers defending them are harassed, and the release of those abducted often requires massive public and international pressure. It is currently impossible to give an exact number of people who disappeared in Kenya between 2022 and 2026. However, the available reports paint a clear picture. The problem exists and has escalated, particularly since mid-2024, with a dramatic increase in documented cases. The number of unreported cases is high. The officially reported figures (e.g., from IPOA) are likely only the tip of the iceberg. Human rights organizations assume a far higher number of unreported cases. There are different categories of enforced disappearance. The disappeared are not only Kenyan citizens but increasingly also foreigners, indicating a regional dimension to the problem. The cases listed demonstrate that enforced disappearances of critics in East Africa represent a real and growing threat to civil society. The case of Abubakar Idris "Dadiyata" in Nigeria, which you initially asked about, unfortunately fits into this grim regional pattern, even though Nigeria is not geographically part of East Africa. https://saharareporters.com/2026/02/14/amnesty-international-calls-independent-probe-activist-dadayitas-disappearance