East African rights groups have condemned recent remarks by Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan that target young people, warning that such rhetoric could legitimize state violence and repression.

• The groups criticized President Suluhu's use of the phrase "nitawapiga mikwaju," a threat loosely translated as cracking down on dissenters, during a May 4 address in Dar es Salaam.
• Key organizations involved include the Pan African Solidarity Network and the Pan-African Progressive Leaders Solidarity Network, who accuse leaders in Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda of forming an "autocratic alliance."
• The groups drew parallels to alleged abuses during Tanzania’s 2025 election period and recent protest crackdowns in Kenya since 2023, citing excessive force by security forces.