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Tanzania police investigate reported abduction of envoy who criticised government
Tanzania's former Ambassador to Cuba, Humphrey Polepole.
What you need to know:
- The envoy quit his ambassador job earlier this year, saying he could no longer be part of President Samia Suluhu's administration.
- He was then formally stripped of his diplomatic status.
Dar es Salaam. Tanzanian Police say they are looking into claims that the country's former Ambassador to Cuba, Humphrey Polepole, has been abducted.
Polepole is an outspoken government critic.
A relative says he was abducted in the early hours of Monday at his home in Dar es Salaam.
The former envoy had earlier been summoned by police to provide explanations over allegations he made on social media.
His brother Godfrey Polepole said they found the door to his home broken, electric wires cut and a large amount of blood spilled at the premises.
But in a statement on Monday October 6, 2025, the police said Polepole had been legally required to appear before the DCI for questioning, but was yet to comply.
“Humphrey Polepole was served with a legal notice under the country’s laws to report to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to provide explanations regarding various allegations he made on social media, but to date he has not complied,” the statement read.
The police added that preliminary investigations are ongoing to verify social media reports of his abduction.
Quit job, stripped of diplomatic status
“We have begun examining these claims to establish the truth,” police said.
The envoy quit his ambassador job earlier this year, saying he could no longer be part of President Samia Suluhu's administration. He claimed that Tanzania disrespects the rule of law and the constitution.
He was then formally stripped of his diplomatic status by President Suluhu.
