The United States Department of State has formally designated Senior Assistant Commissioner Faustine Jackson Mafwele of the Tanzanian Police Force for alleged involvement in gross human rights violations, effectively barring him from entering the United States.
The designation was made under Section 7031(c) of the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2026, which allows the U.S. to sanction foreign officials credibly linked to serious abuses such as torture.
According to a statement issued on Thursday, the U.S. said it had credible information that Mafwele was involved in the detention, torture, and sexual assault of two East African activists—Ugandan Agather Atuhaire and Kenyan Boniface Mwangi.
The activists were reportedly arrested in Dar es Salaam in May last year while observing the court trial of Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu. Both later alleged they were subjected to severe abuse while in custody, including beatings and sexual assault.
Boniface Mwangi claimed he was stripped, beaten, and tortured during several days of detention, while Agather Atuhaire also alleged she was raped by security personnel. Tanzanian authorities have previously dismissed the allegations, describing them as unverified claims.
The case sparked widespread condemnation from international human rights organisations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, both of which called for independent investigations into the arrests and treatment of the activists.
The U.S. designation marks one of the strongest diplomatic actions taken so far over the incident and reflects increasing international scrutiny of Tanzania’s human rights practices, particularly regarding political opposition and civic freedoms.
Officials say the move also signals continued U.S. willingness to sanction individuals implicated in serious abuses under global human rights accountability frameworks.