US travel advisory for Tanzania, violent crime is common

Thursday, December 27, 2018

The growing concerns over crime, terrorism and official actions hinting people on the basis of their gender or sexual identity the State Department has urged the US citizens to “exercise increased caution” in Tanzania.

The State Department said that violent crime is prevalent which might further lead to assault, kidnapping and carjacking while the terrorist groups continue plotting attacks in Tanzania.

It went on saying that the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) were arrested, targeted, harassed and charged with unrelated offences.

Those individuals under suspicion of same-sex sexual conduct would be detained and subjected to forced and anal examinations.

However, any specific incidents of crime, terrorism or abuse of LGBTI persons, considering violent crime, the State Department stated that the local police might not have the needed resources to respond effectively.

The advisory warned of attacks in embassies, police stations, mosques and other places frequented by Westerners.

The State Department pointed to series of small-scale attacks where masked gunmen killed more than 30 police and local political officials in the Pwani region.

There were no claim to any allegiance to a terrorist group in 2017’s terrorism report.Due to the comments in October by Dar es Salaam Governor Paul Makonda  the December 26 travel advisory concerning LGBTI persons gathered response.

Mr Makonda said that  he received reports that there were so many homosexuals in the city, and these homosexuals are advertising and selling their services on the internet. He  announced this to every citizen of Dar es Salaam that if they knew any gays  they should report it to them.

In 2017 the Trump administration designated  Tanzania as a “Level 2” travel destination on a 4-level scale. The US advised more than normal precautions for Kenya and Uganda by listing then as Level 2 countries while Somalia and South Sudan are both given Level 4 designation having a  “Do Not Travel” warning.

In the Level 3 classification Sudan was placed 3 and was urged to “Reconsider Travel”.Rwanda did not require any special precautions for travellers.

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