US sanctions Tanzanian police official for ‘torture’ of human rights activists
Wycliffe Muia,NairobiAnd
Alfred Lasteck,BBC Africa, Dar es Salaam
The United States has sanctioned a senior Tanzanian police officer over allegations related to the “torture and sexual assault” of East African human rights activists Boniface Mwangi and Agather Atuhaire last year.
In a statement, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the State Department designated Faustine Jackson Mafwele based on “credible information that he was involved in gross human rights violations.”
Tanzanian Foreign Minister Mahmoud Thabit Kombo told the BBC that the government had not yet received the official designation, which bars Mafwele from entering the United States.
The sanctions come amid growing scrutiny of Tanzania’s human rights record, with U.S. lawmakers calling for tougher measures.
The two activists had traveled to Tanzania to observe the trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu last May. They were arrested and then released. Kenyan Mwangi said he had been detained for several days alongside Ugandan Atuhaire.
Mwangi claimed he was stripped naked, hung upside down, beaten at the feet and sexually assaulted while in detention, while Atuhaire also said she was raped while in detention in Tanzania.
Tanzanian police dismissed the torture allegations at the time, calling the activists’ accounts “opinions” and “hearsay.”
But Rubio, in his statement Thursday evening, said members of the Tanzania Police Force (TPF) had “arrested, tortured and sexually assaulted” the two activists.
He did not explicitly state Mafwele’s alleged role, but Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Riley Barnes said the United States was “taking steps to promote accountability for this heinous act.”
Mafwele, who serves as Tanzania’s senior deputy police commissioner, is the first senior government official under President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration to face foreign sanctions.
The BBC has asked Tanzanian police for comment.
Amnesty International had previously called for an urgent investigation into what it said were the arbitrary arrest, torture, incommunicado detention and forced expulsion of the two activists.
Human Rights Watch also cited this case in its report this year on Tanzania, highlighting a broader crackdown on opposition figures, activists and freedom of expression.
The sanctions come as Tanzania continues to investigate reports of political repression and abuses surrounding last October’s general elections.
He did not say who was responsible for the killings, but blamed the violence on foreign-sponsored groups. However, opposition and human rights groups say the toll is even higher and accuse security forces of shooting at unarmed protesters.
President Samia was declared the winner of the poll with 98% of the vote, in what the opposition called a “parody” of democracy after her main opponents were excluded.
At the time, the president said the elections were fair and transparent and blamed the violence on foreigners, saying it was part of a plot to overthrow her.
Authorities admitted using force against protesters, saying some groups were trying to overthrow the regime by force.
U.S. lawmakers on Tuesday called for tougher measures against the East African country to reverse what they say is democratic backsliding.
Last December, Washington accused the Tanzanian government of suppressing religious freedom and free speech, blocking U.S. investments and failing to prevent violence before and after last year’s elections.
He said these actions endanger U.S. citizens, tourists and U.S. interests and threaten decades of security and development cooperation.
The Tanzanian authorities did not respond.
President Samia took office in 2021 as Tanzania’s first female president following the death of President John Magufuli.
She was initially praised for easing political repression, but political space has since narrowed.
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