Academic Freedom in Jeopardy: African Coalition Demands Release of Imprisoned Tanzanian Lecturers BODY: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania – The African Coalition for Academic Freedom (ACAF) has issued a resolute call for the immediate release of three Tanzanian university lecturers who have been detained without charge, addressing President Samia Suluhu Hassan in a formal letter dated July 23, 2026.
The detained lecturers, Johaiven Revelian Bikongolo and Titus Joseph Kituli of St. John’s University of Tanzania (SJUT), and Melkisedeki Kitunzi Kaijage of the University of Dodoma (UDOM), are at the center of a controversy that has highlighted the state of academic freedom and due process in Tanzania.
The ACAF’s letter raises concerns about the detention of the lecturers without bail and the lack of prompt notification to their employers and families, which it warns could foster uncertainty in universities and discourage open scholarly engagement. Professor Kwadwo Appiagyei-Atua, ACAF’s Regional Director for Africa, signed the letter, emphasizing that the detention of academics without immediate judicial supervision risks undermining confidence in the higher education system and the justice system.
The lecturers, according to the ACAF, are alleged to have encouraged public demonstrations, a claim that has sparked a broader debate on the role of universities in Tanzania’s constitutional democracy.
The situation has garnered attention from legal experts, politicians, civil society organizations, and the public, particularly the case of Kaijage, who was initially charged with inciting students to join demonstrations.
The ACAF’s intervention is significant as it draws the case into the regional and international spotlight, with the letter being copied to various regional and international organizations, including the Commonwealth, the East African Community (EAC), the African Union (AU), and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
The coalition’s decision to involve these institutions reflects the growing international concern over the state of academic freedom and due process.
As the legal proceedings continue, the ACAF is urging the Tanzanian government to respect the constitutional and legal rights of the lecturers and to ensure that any criminal proceedings are conducted in accordance with the law.
The outcome of this case could have far — reaching implications for academic freedom and the rule of law not only in Tanzania but across the African continent.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
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This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: Panafricanvisions
Source: Pan African Visions
