NAIROBI ¨C Gay and transgender people in Tanzania have gone into hiding fearing for their lives after a senior government official called on the public to report suspected homosexuals so that they could be arrested from early next week.
Paul Makonda, regional commissioner for Tanzania¡¯s main city of Dar es Salaam, announced the crackdown on Monday. He said a team would be set up to identify and arrest the ¡°many homosexuals,¡± who could face up to 30 years in jail.
Makonda¡¯s announcement has sparked panic and fear among thousands of LGBT+ people in the East African nation. Some said they were too scared to go outside during the day, while others had left their homes fearing imminent arrest.
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