- NetBlocks confirmed that X was cut off on all major networks in Tanzania.
- The shutdown followed a fake post on the police account claiming President Suluhu had died.
- Government denied the report and linked it to hackers.
- President Suluhu had earlier warned about social media threats to national security.
Internet monitoring group NetBlocks on Tuesday confirmed that access to X (formerly Twitter) had been blocked across Tanzania. This came just hours after the official account of the Tanzania Police Force (TANPOL) was hacked, with a disturbing message claiming President Samia Suluhu Hassan had died—a statement the government quickly dismissed as false.
“X is now unreachable on key providers across Tanzania,” NetBlocks said in a post, suggesting the blackout was a direct reaction to the alarming false post.
Government Reacts with Tougher Digital Rules
President Samia Suluhu had recently urged national security organs to increase oversight of online platforms, warning that social media was becoming a growing threat to the country’s peace and unity.
“Social media should not become a weapon to cause confusion,” she stated during a public event, hinting at stronger measures to tame digital content.
Repeat of a Pattern: Second Shutdown in a Year
This move marks the second time within a year that Tanzanians are being denied access to X. The latest block has only added to fears that the government is tightening control over public information and shrinking digital freedom.
Arrest of Tundu Lissu Fuels Political Tension
The blackout also comes at a time when opposition leader Tundu Lissu is in custody facing treason charges. Lissu, who survived a shooting in 2017, has been a strong voice against President Suluhu’s leadership and was once barred from contesting in past elections. His arrest has further raised the political temperature in the country.
Civil Society Voices Alarm Over Rising Digital Clampdown
Human rights defenders and opposition groups have slammed the shutdown, arguing that the government is using the fake police post as an excuse to silence critical voices. They believe the blackout is part of a broader strategy to block public access to important political information during this heated pre-election period.
The restriction of X has now sparked a wider conversation on whether Tanzania’s online space is under siege—and what that means for democracy in the country.
