The United States has imposed sanctions on Tanzania's police chief, Senior Assistant Commissioner Faustine Jackson Mafwele, barring him from entering the country over alleged human rights violations committed by the police force. The sanctions were announced on Thursday, following a general election in October where President Samia Suluhu Hassan secured a full term with 97% of the vote amid a crackdown on opposition figures.
Background of the Sanctions
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated in December that the country was reviewing its ties with Tanzania due to repression and election violence. The sanctions designation against Mafwele, Rubio said, was based on credible information linking him to human rights violations. “One year ago, members of the (Tanzanian police) detained, tortured, and sexually assaulted Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire and Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi, who were in Dar es Salaam to observe the trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu,” Rubio said in a statement.
Details of the Alleged Violations
The Ugandan and Kenyan activists were arrested and detained in Tanzania in May last year. They alleged that they were tortured by Mafwele while in detention before being abandoned near the Kenya–Tanzania border. The sanctions come as Tanzania grapples with the aftermath of the October election, which saw widespread protests and a violent crackdown.
Post-Election Violence and Investigation
A commission appointed by President Hassan to investigate post-election violence found that 518 people were killed and thousands were injured. The opposition believes the casualty figures are significantly higher, marking the first major violent protests in the East African nation in decades. The commission’s report, released in April, recommended further investigation of police conduct during the protests, during which unarmed civilians were reportedly shot in their homes. Internet access in the country remained disrupted for several days after the polls, and videos of the shootings were shared on social media after restoration, despite police warnings not to share such content online.
