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The United States has imposed sanctions on a senior Tanzanian police officer, Faustine Jackson Mafwele, over the alleged torture of two East African activists who were detained in 2025.
In a statement issued late Thursday, the office of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said there was credible evidence linking Tanzanian police official Mafwele to serious human rights violations.
The sanctions relate to the detention and alleged abuse of Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan campaigner Agather Atuhaire.
“One year ago, members of the (Tanzanian Police Force) detained, tortured, and sexually assaulted Ugandan Agather Atuhaire and Kenyan Boniface Mwangi, who were in Dar es Salaam to observe the judicial trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu,” Rubio’s office said.
Both activists travelled to Tanzania in May 2025 to observe the treason trial of opposition politician Tundu Lissu.
According to the pair, they were detained by Tanzanian security forces, held incommunicado for several days and subjected to torture and sexual assault before later being abandoned near their respective borders.
Washington said Mafwele has now been barred from entering the United States over his alleged role in the incident.
Atuhaire received the International Women of Courage Award from the US in 2024, while Mwangi is a prominent Kenyan activist who has declared interest in contesting next year’s presidential election in Kenya.
