Tanzania President Samia Suluhu Hassan is the subject of cross-border criticism following a government crackdown on foreign human rights defenders, who sought to attend the treason trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu this week.
The controversy erupted on Sunday, May 18, with the deportation of Kenyan activists, including prominent lawyer Martha Karua.
The move has since reignited a broader debate over Suluhu's political trajectory, with critics questioning whether the president, initially celebrated as a reformer, is shifting toward authoritarianism. "It's definitely true that President Samia has become more authoritarian.
She started as a reformer, which is true of many African leaders.
