The United States has imposed sanctions on senior Tanzanian police officer Faustine Jackson Mafwele over alleged involvement in the detention, torture and sexual assault of Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire.
The sanctions, announced by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on May 21, were issued under Section 7031(c) of the US Department of State appropriations law, which targets foreign officials implicated in gross human rights violations.
The move effectively bars Tanzanian Senior Assistant Commissioner Faustine Jackson Mafwele from entering the United States.
According to the US State Department, there is “credible information” linking Mafwele to serious human rights abuses committed against Mwangi and Atuhaire while the two activists were in Tanzania in May 2025.
The two East African activists had travelled to Dar es Salaam to observe the treason trial of Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu, a case that attracted international attention amid growing concerns over political repression in Tanzania.
Reports indicate that Boniface Mwangi and Atuhaire were arrested shortly after arriving in Tanzania and detained for several days under unclear circumstances.
Following their release, the pair publicly alleged that they had been tortured and sexually assaulted while in custody.
Mwangi previously claimed he was stripped naked, beaten and subjected to degrading treatment during interrogation, while Atuhaire also accused Tanzanian security officers of torture and sexual violence.
Their allegations sparked outrage across East Africa and drew condemnation from human rights organizations and civil society groups.
In his statement, Rubio said the United States remains committed to promoting accountability for officials accused of violating human rights.
He noted that the sanctions were intended to send a strong message against abuse by state security agencies.
The sanctions also come at a sensitive political moment for Tanzania following the country’s disputed 2025 general election, which saw President Samia Suluhu Hassan secure another term amid criticism from opposition groups and international observers over alleged suppression of dissent.
A commission appointed to investigate post-election violence reportedly found that hundreds of people were killed and thousands injured during demonstrations and clashes with security officers, although opposition figures insist the actual figures may be significantly higher.
The United States’ decision to sanction Mafwele is being viewed by analysts as one of the strongest international actions yet against a Tanzanian security official tied to alleged abuses during the recent political crackdown.
Reacting to the sanctions, Atuhaire welcomed the move and expressed hope that further regional and international accountability measures would follow.
Human rights activists across East Africa have also renewed calls for independent investigations into allegations of torture and abuse committed by security agencies in Tanzania.
FOLLOW NAIROBI NEWS ON FACEBOOK
