The U.S. Department of State has sanctioned the Tanzanian Police Force (TPF) Senior Assistant Commissioner, Faustine Jackson Mafwele over gross violations of human rights including torturing, and sexually assaulting human rights activist Agather Atuhaire and Kenyan Boniface Mwangi, last year.
The two renowned activists, had travelled to Tanzania to observe the trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu in May, when they were detained for several days and later released.
Following their release, the activists addressed Journalists, where Mwangi revealed that he was stripped naked, hung upside down, beaten on his feet and sexually assaulted in detention, while Atuhaire said she was raped during her detention.
In a statement released on Friday, the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, said the sanctions followed credible reports of his involvement in gross human rights violations, and is guided by section 7031(c) of the National Security Department of State and Related Programs Appropriations Act 2026.
“One year ago, members of the TPF 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. This designation prohibits Mafwele from entering the US,” he said.
The two activists had travelled to Tanzania to observe the trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu last May when they were detained and later released, with Kenyan Mwangi saying he was held for several days alongside Uganda’s Atuhaire.
Following the announcement of the sanctions, Atuhaire said she hoped in future, human rights abusers would be sentenced to prison for their actions, and not only be slapped with travel sanctions.
“The arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice..” Our tormentor and of many other Tanzanians has been sanctioned by the @StateDept. It gives me hope that one day it will be more than just sanctions he will have to contend with but be behind bars to pay for his crimes and to save people from his criminality. We hope that the regional bodies we petitioned will also pronounce themselves soon” she said.
