U.S. Imposes Visa Ban on Senior Tanzanian Police Chief Over Torture of Activists
The United States Department of State has formally designated Faustine Jackson Mafwele, a Senior Assistant Commissioner in the Tanzanian Police Force (TPF), under Section 7031(c) of the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, citing credible information linking him to gross violations of human rights.
In a statement released on May 21, 2026, Secretary of State Marco Rubio detailed that the designation stems from events that occurred one year ago in Dar es Salaam. According to the US government, members of the Tanzanian Police Force under Mafwele’s involvement detained, tortured, and sexually assaulted Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire and Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi.
The two activists had travelled to Tanzania to observe the high-profile judicial trial of prominent opposition leader Tundu Lissu. The designation immediately prohibits Mafwele from entering the United States and sends a strong signal regarding Washington’s stance on accountability for human rights abuses.
This action fits into a broader pattern of US engagement with human rights issues in East Africa. Section 7031(c) is a frequently used tool that allows the State Department to publicly name and sanction foreign officials credibly implicated in significant abuses, effectively imposing a visa ban and often carrying reputational consequences. Similar designations have previously been applied to officials from various countries when evidence of extrajudicial actions, torture, or suppression of political dissent has been established.
The incident involving Atuhaire and Mwangi occurred amid heightened political tensions in Tanzania surrounding the trial of Tundu Lissu, a vocal critic of the government and former presidential candidate. International observers and human rights organisations have repeatedly raised concerns about the treatment of activists, journalists, and opposition figures in the country.
The US designation comes as Tanzania continues to navigate its democratic credentials and international partnerships, particularly with Western donors who increasingly tie funding and cooperation to governance and rights standards.
Neither the Tanzanian government nor Commissioner Mafwele has issued an immediate public response to the US announcement. The move is likely to strain diplomatic relations between Washington and Dodoma, even as both countries maintain important economic and security ties in the East African region. It also draws renewed international attention to the safety of human rights defenders and election observers operating across borders in the region.
For human rights advocacy groups, the designation is viewed as a necessary step toward accountability, though many argue it should be accompanied by broader reforms within Tanzanian security institutions. The case highlights ongoing challenges regarding the protection of activists and the space for political expression in several East African nations.
