Former Tanzanian ambassador and government critic Humphrey Polepole has been allegedly abducted from his home in Dar es Salaam.
According to his brother, Godfrey Polepole, the abduction occurred in the early hours of Monday, leaving behind signs of a violent struggle, including a broken door, cut electric wires, and a large pool of blood.
The family reported the incident after visiting the residence, and videos of the bloody scene have been shared online.
Polepole, who resigned from his ambassadorial post earlier this year after publicly criticizing the government, had been summoned by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to provide explanations over allegations he made on social media.
The police have confirmed that they are investigating the reports, but the circumstances surrounding the alleged abduction remain unclear.
Tanzania’s political environment is tense ahead of the general elections on October 29, with President Samia Suluhu Hassan running for a second term amid criticism of increasing repression, including a crackdown on opposition parties and civil society.
This incident has sparked concerns about the safety of government critics and opposition voices in Tanzania, where cases of abductions have been on the rise in recent months.
