Tanzanian President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan has called for coordinated action between Kenya and Tanzania to counter what she described as ”ill-mannered behavior from activists and Gen Zs”, urging a firm approach against individuals she accused of exploiting democracy to incite unrest.
Speaking during President William Ruto’s State visit in Tanzania, Suluhu said the issue of cross-border activism and youth-led protests had featured prominently in her discussions with the Kenyan leader.
“When evils occur in Kenya, they are our evils; let us cooperate to remove them. When evils occur in Tanzania, it is the same,” Suluhu said.
“We were discussing (With President Ruto) how to deal with these ill-mannered children of ours who call themselves Gen Z… going everywhere claiming to fight for democracy, yet they cause chaos, burn things, and disturb their governments.”
She called for a unified regional stance, saying authorities in both countries should not differentiate between nationalities when dealing with activists perceived to be fomenting unrest.
“We have to stand firm on these people. If they come to me, I will deal with them; if they come to you, deal with them so they behave,” she said, adding that democracy should not be used as a pretext to destabilize governments or destroy property.
Suluhu also argued that democratic systems should reflect local traditions and contexts rather than external models.
“The word democracy should not spoil our countries, our traditions, or our customs. Democracy has no single formula,” she said.
Dr. Samia’s remarks come against the backdrop of heightened scrutiny over how East African governments are responding to youth-led protests and dissent.
Both Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania have, in recent years, faced criticism from rights groups over crackdowns on activists.
In Kenya, protests against the 2024 finance bill, largely driven by Gen Z activists, were met with a heavy police response, drawing condemnation from civil society and international observers.
A recent report by Freedom House placed Kenya and Tanzania among countries accused of engaging in transnational repression, including cross-border targeting of political dissidents.
The report cited incidents such as the 2024 rendition of Ugandan opposition figure Kizza Besigye and the brief abduction of Tanzanian activist Maria Sarungi Tsehai in Nairobi, raising concerns about growing regional security cooperation being used to silence critics.
Suluhu’s comments also echo her previous warnings following Tanzania’s 2025 general election, where she pledged to safeguard national stability “at all cost” after violent post-election protests and allegations of foreign interference.
Rights advocates have warned that increased coordination between states in addressing dissent could erode civil liberties and Kenya’s long-standing role as a regional refuge for exiled activists.
