Former Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner Paul Makonda has been named in a new series of allegations linked to the disappearance of three young women Caren Cyprian, Josepha Paul, and Martina Elias who remain unaccounted for years after they were last seen.
According to reports and civil society actors, the three women disappeared during a broader period marked by allegations of enforced disappearances and intimidation targeting activists, critics, and individuals from marginalized groups in Tanzania. As usual, authorities have consistently denied involvement in any systematic abductions.
Caren Cyprian, one of the missing women, was reportedly in a relationship with another woman identified as Diana Doreen. Following the disappearance of Cyprian, Doreen – a reportedly other target in the saga – also went missing under unclear circumstances. No verified public record has established her whereabouts, and both cases remain unresolved.
The disappearances have continued to be cited alongside other unresolved cases in Tanzania involving activists, journalists, and political figures, many of which human rights organisations say were never fully investigated or resolved to international standards.
Makonda, who at the time served as a regional commissioner, has evolved into a member of parliament information minister in the government widely accused of killing hundreds of protesters in October 2025.
Makonda is also on record repeatedly referenced in human rights reporting concerning allegations of heavy-handed policing, crackdowns on dissent, and controversial public security operations. One widely cited case includes his 2017 directive linked to a proposed task force targeting LGBT individuals, which drew condemnation from rights groups including Amnesty International.
In 2020, the United States government formally designated Makonda and barred him from entering the country. According to the U.S. State Department, the decision was based on his alleged involvement in “gross violations of human rights,” including accusations related to the denial of the right to life, liberty, and security of persons. The designation also referenced allegations of repression of political opposition and targeting of marginalized communities.
Makonda has denied wrongdoing in relation to these allegations.
Over time, Makonda has moved from regional commissioner to national political prominence, later serving in senior government roles, including as a minister and Member of Parliament. His rise has remains controversial in sections of civil society and international commentary, where concerns about accountability for past allegations have persisted.
The three women – Caren Cyprian, Josepha Paul, and Martina Elias – remain missing, and their cases remain unresolved.
This is a revised version of the original story, updated for relevance and timeliness in light of changes in Tanzania’s administration.
