The US has sanctioned Tanzania Police Senior Assistant Commissioner Faustine Jackson Mafwele over gross human rights violations.
The designation bars him from entering the US over the May 2025 assault of activists Boniface Mwangi (Kenyan) and Agather Atuhaire (Ugandan).
A statement by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, dated May 21, 2026, says that last year members of the Tanzanian Police Force detained, tortured, and sexually assaulted Ms Atuhaire and Mr Mwangi.
The human rights activists were in Dar es Salaam to observe the judicial trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu.
