US Senator Jim Risch Warns of Rising Abductions and Torture Cases in East Africa

US Senator Jim Risch has warned over rising cases of abductions and torture in Kenya and East Africa, saying they are exposing the state of decay and impunity.

In a statement on Thursday, Risch, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, noted that these incidents are a direct threat to regional stability, security, and the interests of the East African countries with the US.

''Rising abductions and torture in East Africa signal more than abuse; they are a direct threat to regional stability, security, and US interests,'' Risch wrote.The senator was responding to a statement by the US Bureau of African Affairs, which condemned the recent abduction and mistreatment of Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire and her Kenyan counterpart Boniface Mwangi.The two activists had travelled to Tanzania as observers of a case against Tanzania's opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who is facing charges before the court. The activists were forcefully taken from a hotel where they were staying before they disappeared before resurfacing days later, in different locations.

According to the US Bureau of African Affairs, both activists were unlawfully detained. After days of silence and active search, Mwangi was found in Ukunda, Kwale County, on May 22, 2025, after being deported. He reported severe torture during his detention:

“I have gone through four very dark days, I have been tortured very badly, I can barely walk,” he told reporters then.Agather was found on the border between Tanzania and Uganda. The duo claimed they were tortured while in detention in Tanzania.

Kenya, in particular, has witnessed a spike in cases of forced disappearances targeting activists, journalists, and opposition figures, raising fears of government-linked crackdowns on dissent.

Concerns have mounted over the use of forced disappearances as a tool to silence critics, with families left searching for missing loved ones.

Recent cases, including the disappearance of Murang’a MCA Grace Nduta, sparked outrage within the public. The Director of Criminal Investigations later confirmed her arrest over the staged abduction of George Koimburi.

Apart from Kenya and Tanzania, Somalia and Ethiopia have also seen a spike in politically motivated kidnappings, often linked to military operations and ethnic conflicts.

In Sudan, the ongoing civil war has fueled mass disappearances, with reports of torture and killings emerging from Darfur and Khartoum.

Risch has warned that these cases could destabilise the region, making it vulnerable to security threats from attackers like Al Shabaab and ISIS, who thrive in lawless environments.