US sanctions Tanzanian police official over 'torture' of rights activists

The US has sanctioned a elder Tanzanian constabulary authoritative implicit allegations linked to the "torture and intersexual assault" of East African rights activists Boniface Mwangi and Agather Atuhaire past year.

In a statement, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the State Department had designated Faustine Jackson Mafwele based connected "credible accusation that helium was progressive successful gross violations of quality rights".

Tanzania's Foreign Affairs Minister Mahmoud Thabit Kombo told the BBC that the authorities was yet to person the ceremonial designation, which bars Mafwele from entering the US.

The sanctions travel amid increasing scrutiny of Tanzania's quality rights record, with US lawmakers calling for tougher action.

The 2 activists had travelled to Tanzania to observe the proceedings of absorption person Tundu Lissu past May erstwhile they were detained and aboriginal released, with Kenyan Mwangi saying helium was held for respective days alongside Uganda's Atuhaire.

Mwangi alleged that helium was stripped naked, hung upside down, beaten connected his feet and sexually assaulted successful detention, portion Atuhaire besides said she was raped during her detention successful Tanzania.

Tanzanian constabulary astatine the clip dismissed the torture allegations, describing the activists' accounts arsenic "opinions" and "hearsay".

But Rubio successful his connection precocious connected Thursday said members of the Tanzanian Police Force (TPF) had "detained, tortured, and sexually assaulted" the 2 activists.

It did not explicitly authorities Mafwele's alleged role, but Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Riley Barnes said the US was "taking enactment to beforehand accountability for this heinous act".

Mafwele, who serves arsenic Tanzania's elder adjunct commissioner of police, is the archetypal elder authorities authoritative nether President Samia Suluhu Hassan's medication to look overseas sanctions.

The BBC has asked the Tanzanian constabulary for comment.

Amnesty International had antecedently called for an urgent probe into what it described arsenic the arbitrary arrest, torture, incommunicado detention and forcible deportation of the 2 activists.

Human Rights Watch besides cited the lawsuit successful this year's study connected Tanzania, pointing to a broader crackdown connected absorption figures, activists and escaped expression.

The sanctions travel arsenic Tanzania continues to analyse reports of governmental repression and abuses surrounding the wide predetermination held past October.

It did not accidental who was liable for the killings but did blasted foreign-sponsored groups for the violence. However, the absorption and quality rights groups accidental the decease toll was adjacent higher and impeach the information forces of shooting unarmed protesters.

President Samia was declared the victor of the canvass with 98% of the vote, which the absorption described arsenic a "mockery" of ideology aft her main challengers were excluded.

At the time, the president said the predetermination was just and transparent and blamed foreigners for the violence, saying it was portion of a crippled to overthrow her.

The authorities person admitted utilizing unit against protesters, claiming that immoderate groups were attempting to forcefully alteration the regime.

On Tuesday, US lawmakers called for tougher enactment against the East African federation to reverse what they picture arsenic antiauthoritarian backsliding.

Last December, Washington accused the Tanzanian authorities of repressing spiritual state and escaped speech, blocking US concern and failing to forestall unit earlier and aft past year's elections.

It said these actions had enactment American citizens, tourists and US interests astatine hazard and threatened decades of information and improvement cooperation.

The Tanzanian authorities did not respond.

President Samia came into bureau successful 2021 arsenic Tanzania's archetypal pistillate president pursuing the decease of President John Magufuli.

She was initially praised for easing governmental repression, but the governmental abstraction has since narrowed.

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