U.S. sanctions Tanzanian police official over alleged torture of rights activists
The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) said it has sanctioned a senior Tanzanian police official over allegations of torture and arbitrary detention of human rights defenders and journalists. The measure under the Magnitsky framework includes asset freezes and travel restrictions.
According to the U.S. Treasury Department's announcement Friday, a senior commissioner of the police force under Tanzania's Interior Ministry has been added to the Magnitsky Global sanctions list over allegations of 'systematic torture' against nine human rights defenders and four journalists over the past three years. The Treasury supported its decision with reports from international observers tracking human rights records.
Amnesty International's East Africa Director Tigere Chagutah said in a statement: 'This step is the international response to our demand for accountability.' Human Rights Watch published a detailed file alleging the official was responsible for detentions during opposition protests in 2024 and 2025.
The Tanzanian government has not yet issued an official response, but a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said the government considers the decision 'interference in domestic affairs.' The EU External Action Service said it has noted the sanction and will examine the matter within its own human rights dialogue framework. U.S.-Tanzania trade volume reached $845 million last year.
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