America bans Tanzanian official for starting anti-gay crusade

The United States of America will no longer grant entry to a top Tanzanian official for launching a surveillance squad dedicated to hunting down gay people.

According to the BBC, The US state department said Paul Makonda, the administrative chief of the capital Dar es Salaam, was involved in "gross violations of human rights".

The ban has also been extended to his immediate family members who have also been barred from visiting the US.

Mr. Makunda's ban, according to a tweet by the US Secretary of State, Mike Pompey, on Friday, came amidst concern about the "deteriorating" state of human rights in Tanzania.

Today we designated Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner Paul Christian Makonda as ineligible to enter the U.S. for his involvement in gross violations of #humanrights. We are deeply concerned over deteriorating respect for human rights and rule of law in #Tanzania.

— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) January 31, 2020

A statement from the US state department said that "[Mr. Makonda has] also been implicated in the oppression of the political opposition, crackdowns on freedom of expression and association, and the targeting of marginalized individuals."

When Mr. Makonda - an ally of President Magufuli - launched the anti-gay surveillance force in 2018, he said that he expected international criticism for the move, but added: "I prefer to anger those countries than to anger God."

According to the BBC, a crackdown on freedom of expression has been on the rise since President John Magufuli came into office in 2015. He has also been accused of repressing political dissent, detaining human rights activists, and muzzling the media by human rights activists.

Homosexual acts are illegal in Tanzania and many gay, lesbian and transgender people are forced to hide their sexuality as a result.

Meanwhile, also on Friday, the US added Tanzania to an expanded list of countries whose citizens are barred from obtaining certain types of immigration visas.

BBC