Tanzania anti-gay hunt: US warns American citizens over crackdown

The US Embassy in Tanzania has advised American citizens in the country to review their social media profiles, after a governor announced a crackdown on homosexuality in the city of Dar es Salaam.

In a security alert issued on Saturday (November 3), the embassy issued a three-point action plan to its LGBT+ citizens living in Tanzania, including to “remove or protect images” on social media that “run afoul” with the country’s ban on homosexuality.

It said that citizens should “employ sound security practices,” such as “monitoring local and international news.”

Dar es Salaam’s governor Paul Makonda announced a crackdown on gay people. (Dizzim Online/youtube)

The embassy added that Americans should ask Tanzanian authorities for the US embassy to be alerted if they are requested.

Under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, Tanzanian officials are required to alert the US Embassy if they arrest American citizens.

However, the security alert noted, “this is not consistently done.”

On October 29, Paul Makonda, the governor of Dar es Salaam, announced the creation of a task force to crack down on LGBT+ activity in the city from November 6 onwards.

He urged the residents in Tanzania’s most populous city to report any information on LGBT+ residents to authorities.

“Give me their names. My ad hoc team will begin to get their hands on them next Monday,” Salaam said in a declaration.

Makonda, who has held his position since 2016, added: “I have information about the presence of many homosexuals in our province.