Tanzania has once again suspended the operations of social media platform X (formerly Twitter) following a cyber attack that compromised the police account. This marks the second blackout of the platform this month.
Shutdown of X After Hack
The Tanzanian government has shut down the platform X after a hacked police account circulated false reports claiming President Samia Suluhu Hassan had died. The platform became unreachable for users in Tanzania, according to analytic company NetBlocks, which confirmed the shutdown on Tuesday night. This blackout follows a similar action taken by authorities in August 2024, when X was also taken offline after the arrest of opposition leader Tundu Lissu.
Political Climate in the Country
Tanzania is currently under a tense political atmosphere. Opposition leader Tundu Lissu has been arrested again and charged with treason, while his political party, Chadema, has been barred from participating in the upcoming presidential elections in October 2025. Tensions escalated further with the detention of activists from Kenya and Uganda who were in Tanzania for civil society work.
Increased Internet Control in Tanzania
Concerns over freedom of speech in Tanzania are mounting, especially following the recent shutdown of over 80,000 websites and social media accounts under the pretext of protecting children's mental health. Deputy Minister for Information Hamis Mwijuma stated that the government aims to cut down on "unethical content". However, experts believe this measure is actually aimed at stifling dissent and controlling the online space.
The situation in Tanzania raises alarms over growing trends of freedom of speech restrictions and internet control, highlighting ominous signs of authoritarianism in the country.
