Kenyan Journalist Muthoki Mumo And South African Counterpart Angela Quintal Released, Passports, Phones Confiscated
Muthoki Mumo and colleague Angela Quintal who were arrested yesterday in Tanzania have benn released and are currently at the South African embassy in Tanzania.
The two, who work for the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) were arrested by Tanzanian immigration authorities after being in the country for reporting missions.
Tanzanian Authorities took their passports upon arrest, and are yet to return them.
Their communication devices were also taken away and used to relay falsified information.
Angela Quintal’s twitter account has since been suspended.
CPJ had earlier demanded for the release of the journalists, as well as other media stakeholders.
Read: Tanzanian Authorities Demand Sh1.3 Million To Release Kenyan Fishermen Arrested In Lake Victoria
“We are concerned for the safety of our colleagues Angela Quintal and Muthoki Mumo, who were detained while legally visiting Tanzania,” Joel Simon, CPJ’s executive director said.
Authorities in #Tanzania should immediately release @CPJAfrica program staff @angelaquintal and @muthokimumo.
They have been taken to an unknown location.
Join @pressfreedom to demand that @MagufuliJP ensure their immediate release: https://t.co/c6ACl9gnQ2 pic.twitter.com/5MFunfc4i8
— CPJ Africa (@CPJAfrica) November 7, 2018
Earlier on, Quintal’s sister Genevieve Quintal faulted information shared through her Twitter account, saying that it was shared by Tanzanian police.
The tweet by @angelaquintal was not sent by her. We have confirmation that she is still detained. This shows someone is using her account. #Free_Quintal @PresidencyZA @DIRCO_ZA @News24 @joestolley @LindiweSisuluSA @CyrilRamaphosa @pressfreedom pic.twitter.com/PGc48ClCKz
— Genevieve Quintal (@GenMQ) November 7, 2018
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The Tanzanian government spokesman however said that they were arrested because they wanted to establish how the two entered the country. He said that the two have since been released.
Ofisi yangu inafuatilia kujua kwa nini wanaoitwa waandishi wa habari wa CPJ waliruhusiwa kuingia nchini lakini baadaye wakalazimika kuhojiwa na uhamiaji na kuachiwa.
— Msemaji Mkuu wa Serikali (@TZMsemajiMkuu) November 8, 2018
According to the Kenya Union of Journalists Executive Director Juma Kwayera who spoke to Kahawa Tungu, the communication devices for the two have been tampered with by the Tanzanian police.
Quintal worked for the Guardian as an editor while Ms Mumo worked for the Nation group before shifting to CPJ.
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