The United States Department of State has imposed sanctions on Tanzanian Police Force Senior Assistant Commissioner Faustine Jackson Mafwele over allegations of serious human rights abuses.
In a statement released on Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the sanctions were based on credible reports linking Mafwele to gross human rights violations under Section 7031(c) of U.S. law.
According to the statement, members of the Tanzanian Police Force allegedly detained, tortured, and sexually assaulted Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire and Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi in Dar es Salaam one year ago while they were observing the court proceedings of opposition leader Tundu Lissu.
The sanctions make Mafwele ineligible to enter the United States.
In May 2025, Atuhaire and Mwangi travelled to Dar es Salaam to follow the trial of Tundu Lissu before Tanzanian authorities reportedly arrested them.
Human rights groups and activists alleged that the two were subjected to torture and sexual abuse during detention before eventually being released following pressure from the international community.
Mwangi later claimed he was detained for several days together with Atuhaire and subjected to severe abuse, including beatings and sexual assault, while in custody. Atuhaire also alleged that she experienced torture and rape during her detention.
The sanctions were issued under Section 7031(c) of the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2026, which authorizes the U.S. government to deny entry to foreign officials implicated in corruption or serious human rights violations.
Reacting to the development on X, Atuhaire welcomed the sanctions, saying the decision offered hope for justice.
“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice,” she wrote, adding that she hopes further accountability measures will eventually follow.
She also expressed hope that the regional bodies petitioned over the matter would take action against those responsible.
Mafwele becomes the first senior official under President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration to face international sanctions.
