Project Description

This project aims to study the use of domestic counterterrorism (CT) laws in the persecution of human rights defenders in three countries that are increasingly suffering from greater forms of dissent, social and political fragmentation, and popular calls for reform. The countries are Tanzania, Mozambique, and Uganda. These three governments have used the terms “terrorist” to define journalists, activists and civil society organisations, employing securitised responses and weaponising the law. The reasoning for studying such different countries is the distinct context they represent and the consistent deterioration of human rights protection in all three as they face pressure for political reform. While Uganda is an authoritarian country, Mozambique and Tanzania are experiencing severe democratic backsliding. All three have repurposed the counter-terrorism discourse to create legal frameworks enabling them to squash dissent.

Mozambique has an Islamist insurgency in the north that has been militarily controlled by Rwandan and SADC troops but the clampdowns experienced are distinct from this threat. Since the Islamist insurrection began in 2017 the situation has deteriorated with information blackouts on any reports in the North. A bill has been tabled in parliament that would severely restrict the civic space in the name of anti-terrorism measures. Since 2021 Tanzanian opposition leaders have been targeted by the security forces. Chadema leader Freeman Mbowe was imprisoned for seven months on “terrorism” charges after being arrested during a night-time police raid ahead of a party forum pressing for constitutional reforms. Throughout 2024 Tanzania has experienced popular protests demanding reform, ahead of this year’s general elections. In July 2024, thirty-six members of Uganda’s opposition party, Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), faced terrorism charges in court after being deported from Kenya where they were attending a governance training. Uganda also recently launched a new investigation unit under the authority of military intelligence that focuses on monitoring the Ugandan opposition. The new spy agency – the Defense Intelligence and Security (DIS) – is expected to continue collaborating with the Uganda Police Force (UPF) to combat violent crimes such as terrorism, armed robberies, abductions, kidnappings, and murders, although there have been accusations against the agency for engaging in similar activities.

The reports emerging from these countries would highlight and amplify the concerns that CT laws have allowed national security measures to shrink the democratic and civic space. They would collect and analyse evidence to be presented in an advocacy campaign at the UN, AU and EU.

The project aims:

• to produce new knowledge from each of the countries on how legislation and the fabrication of “terrorist” threats are widely used to suppress dissent, silence activists and journalists and expand the unaccountable powers of security forces. New Information creates momentum for new advocacy routes. It is important to understand how training and collaboration with the UN on CT is fueling and capacitating actions against human rights defenders. All three countries continue collaborating with the UN on counter-terrorism efforts.
• capacitate journalists and activists to safely conduct their work after receiving training and continue to report for Intelwatch on these matters. Another desired outcome is the cascade training effect we would hope to apply from these colleagues with other journalists and civic leaders.

• create a movement of solidarity across the three countries and South Africa– overcoming the language barrier and regional distinctions – among civil society and journalists to amplify their voices. The securitisation of democratic practice and civic engagement is deepening and the production of knowledge and advocacy campaigns nationally would begin to drive a new understanding and narrative around CT legislation and state abuse of such training, funding, and legislation.