The Tanzanian government has once again shut down the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) following a major cyber incident that shook the country’s political leadership.

The blackout was triggered by the hacking of the official Tanzania Police Force (TANPOL) X account, which was used to circulate false claims alleging the death of President Samia Suluhu Hassan.

The incident reportedly enraged authorities and prompted President Suluhu to instruct security agencies earlier in the week to “protect social media,” stressing the need to safeguard national interests in the digital space.

The shutdown occurred just weeks after a previous disruption and was confirmed by NetBlocks, a real-time internet monitoring organization.

In a statement posted Tuesday night, NetBlocks reported that X had become inaccessible across all major internet service providers in Tanzania.

The group noted that the move mirrors a similar government action taken in August 2024, when X was blocked following the arrest of opposition leader Tundu Lissu, reinforcing a pattern of platform shutdowns during politically sensitive periods.

Political Tensions and Growing Digital Crackdown

This latest restriction comes amid escalating political tensions in Tanzania.

Tundu Lissu, a prominent opposition figure and survivor of a 2017 assassination attempt, was recently arrested and charged with treason. His party, Chadema, has also been barred from participating in the October 2025 presidential election.

Tensions deepened further with the detention of Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan lawyer Agather Atuhaire, who were reportedly in Tanzania for civil society engagements.

Their whereabouts remain unknown, despite confirmation from a journalist that Mwangi’s wife had been in contact with him.

The repeated shutdowns have reignited concerns over intensifying censorship and state control of online expression.

Earlier this month, Tanzania carried out its largest digital purge to date, blocking more than 80,000 websites, blogs, social media accounts, and online platforms.

Government officials, including Deputy Minister for Information Hamis Mwijuma, said the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) targeted platforms allegedly publishing unethical content harmful to children’s mental health.

However, critics argue that child protection is being used as a pretext to silence dissent, particularly given the lack of transparency around takedown criteria, appeal processes, and prior notice to affected users.

Legal Framework and Regional Pattern of Suppression

Tanzania’s tightening grip on digital space is reinforced by restrictive laws, including the October 2023 ban on the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) without government permits.

Under this rule, unauthorized VPN use can result in fines of up to $2,000 or a minimum 12-month prison sentence.

Though framed as a measure to block illegal content, the regulation has effectively criminalized digital privacy and curtailed access to independent information, especially during politically charged moments.

These controls trace back to the Electronic and Postal Communications Regulations enacted in 2017 and amended in 2020.

The laws criminalize online content deemed indecent, hateful, or capable of disturbing public order, carrying penalties of up to one year in prison, fines of TSH 5 million (about $1,900), or both.

The regulations grant the TCRA sweeping powers to monitor and regulate blogs, websites, and even private social media accounts, significantly constraining freedom of expression.

Tanzania’s actions reflect a broader regional trend. Kenya faced scrutiny in 2023 and 2024 over alleged Telegram shutdowns during national exams.

Uganda has repeatedly blocked social media during elections, most notably in January 2021, while Ethiopia and Sudan have imposed internet restrictions amid civil unrest.

Together, these developments point to a troubling pattern across East Africa, where governments increasingly resort to digital suppression under the guise of protection, raising serious human rights and press freedom concerns.