Paul Makonda, Top Tanzanian Official Behind Anti-Gay Crackdown, Banned from Visiting the US

A top Tanzanian government official was on Friday banned from visiting the United States over the alleged violation of human rights.

The US State Department said Paul Makonda, the Regional Commissioner of Dar es Salaam, was blacklisted “due to his involvement in gross violations of human rights, which include the flagrant denial of the right to life, liberty, or the security of persons.”

It added that Makonda had “also been implicated in the oppression of the political opposition, crackdowns on freedom of expression and association, and the targeting of marginalized individuals.”

The ban applies to Makonda and his immediate family members from visiting the US. The State Department declined to reveal the specific allegations against Makonda but noted that there was “deep concern about deteriorating respect for human rights and rule of law in Tanzania.”

In 2018, Makonda announced a crackdown on homosexuality in Dar es Salaam and unveiled a squad to track suspected homosexuals on social media.

At the time, the US embassy in Tanzania warned citizens in Tanzania to be cautious and to review their social media profiles and internet footprints.