The United States government has sanctioned a senior Tanzanian police officer over the alleged detention, torture, and sexual assault of activist Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan counterpart Agather Atuhaire.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

In a statement on May 21, 2026, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the Department of State had designated Tanzanian Police Force Senior Assistant Commissioner Faustine Mafwele for his alleged involvement in gross human rights violations.

According to Rubio, there was credible information linking Mafwele to the abuse of Mwangi a nd Atuhaire while they were in Tanzanian custody in May 2025, with Mafwele now officially barred from entering the U.S.

“The Department of State is designating Tanzanian Police Force Senior Assistant Commissioner Faustine Jackson Mafwele under Section 7031(c) based on credible information that he was involved in gross violations of human rights,” Rubio said.

📌 What You Need to Know

“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 United States,” he added.

Mwangi and Atuhaire had travelled to Tanzania to attend the first court appearance of opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who was facing treason charges on May 19, 2025.

The two activists were reportedly abducted from their hotel room shortly after arriving in Dar es Salaam, before they were detained, interrogated, tortured, and sexually assaulted and later abandoned near the borders of their respective countries.

Mwangi was later found alive in Ukunda on May 22, 2025, after being held in Tanzania for more than three days, while Atuhaire was reportedly abandoned at the Mutukula border between Uganda and Tanzania a day later.

Their detention came amid a broader crackdown that also saw the detention and deportation of several others, including Martha Karua, former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga and activist Hanifa Adan at Julius Nyerere International Airport.

Following his release , Mwangi described the ordeal as one of the worst forms of torture he had ever experienced, accusing Tanzanian authorities of threatening them with public humiliation if they spoke about the abuse they suffered.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke