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Updated May 22, 2026 - The US has imposed sanctions on a high-ranking Tanzanian police officer accused of involvement in the torture and sexual assault of two East African activists last year.
Sanctions announced
Washington has barred Faustine Jackson Mafwele, a senior assistant commissioner in Tanzania's police force, from entering the United States. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated the decision was based on "credible information" linking Mafwele to "gross violations of human rights."
Tanzania's Foreign Affairs Minister, Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, told the BBC the government had not yet received formal notification of the designation.
Activists' allegations
Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan journalist Agather Atuhaire were detained in Tanzania last May while observing the trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu. Mwangi reported being stripped, hung upside down, beaten, and sexually assaulted during his detention. Atuhaire also alleged she was raped while in custody.
Tanzanian police dismissed the claims at the time, calling them "opinions" and "hearsay." However, Rubio's statement confirmed members of the Tanzanian Police Force (TPF) had "detained, tortured, and sexually assaulted" the two activists.
Mafwele's role
While the US statement did not specify Mafwele's exact involvement, Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Riley Barnes said the sanctions aimed to "promote accountability for this heinous act."
A February BBC Africa Eye documentary, Tanzania's State of Fear, featured testimonies from survivors, including Mwangi and Atuhaire, who named Mafwele as the primary perpetrator. Mafwele has not publicly responded to the allegations.
Broader human rights concerns
Amnesty International previously demanded an urgent investigation into the activists' detention, describing it as arbitrary and involving torture, incommunicado detention, and forcible deportation. Human Rights Watch cited the case in its latest report, highlighting a broader crackdown on opposition figures and free expression in Tanzania.
The sanctions coincide with ongoing scrutiny of Tanzania's political climate, particularly following last October's disputed general election. A government-appointed commission reported 518 deaths during post-election protests, including 197 shot dead, though it blamed foreign-sponsored groups for the violence. Opposition groups dispute the figures, accusing security forces of killing unarmed protesters.
US-Tanzania relations
US lawmakers have called for stronger measures against Tanzania, citing democratic backsliding. In December, Washington accused the government of repressing religious freedom, stifling free speech, and failing to prevent election-related violence, actions it said threatened US interests and citizens.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Tanzania's first female leader, initially eased political repression after taking office in 2021 but has since faced criticism for narrowing civic space. Her administration has not responded to the latest US allegations.
