Tanzania shuts down X after fake claims of Samia Suluhu's demise, police account hacked

Tanzania has blocked access to the social media platform X (formerly twitter) nationwide.

The action follows a cyberattack that disseminated false reports about President Samia Suluhu Hassan's demise.

NetBlocks, an internet watchdog, reported that X has become unreachable on major internet providers in Tanzania.

This disruption comes after a compromised police account on X posted false claims that the president had died, which enraged the country's leadership.

“Live metrics show X (formerly Twitter) has become unreachable on major internet providers in #Tanzania; the incident comes as a compromised police account posts claims the president has died, angering the country's leadership.”

Authorities in Tanzania?? have restricted access to the social media platform X on major internet providers, live metrics from @netblocks show.

On Tuesday, hackers in a series of cyberattacks targeted and breached major government institutions sparking alarm in the country. https://t.co/djVFqhA8Ug

— Kennedy Wandera (@KennedyWandera_) May 20, 2025

This latest shutdown intensifies concerns regarding Tanzania's escalating government censorship and tightening restrictions on online expression.

The Tanzania Police Force has since disassociated itself from the false information, stating that the posts were misleading and not issued by them.

They have launched an investigation to track down the perpetrators of the cyberattack. This incident is part of a wider cyberattack that also targeted other high-profile Tanzanian X accounts.

This marks the second such blockage in less than a year, underscoring a tightening grip on online platforms as President Suluhu instructs security agencies to increase control, citing national security threats.

Her statement, "Social media should not be turned into a tool for destabilisation," reflects the government's stance amidst these developments.

This digital crackdown comes amid heightened political tensions in Tanzania, particularly surrounding the detention of prominent opposition leader Tundu Lissu.

Lissu, a key figure in the Chadema party and a vocal critic of the ruling regime, faces treason charges.

He was previously barred from running in the last general election and survived an assassination attempt in 2017 bringing the question of whether it is because of the  growing unrest ahead of the country’s October general elections

Civil society organizations and opposition factions have vehemently condemned these measures, interpreting them as deliberate efforts to stifle dissent and restrict public access to information, especially as the country approaches a crucial election year.

These organisations advocate for legal reforms, including mandatory judicial oversight for internet shutdowns, to safeguard digital rights and foster a free and inclusive digital environment for all Tanzanians.

The consequences of these digital blackouts extend beyond the immediate suppression of free speech. For many Africans, the internet, and social media platforms in particular, have become indispensable tools for civic engagement, information exchange, and organising collective action.

The struggle for an open and accessible internet in Africa is therefore intrinsically linked to the broader fight for human rights, democratic governance, and economic development.

Tanzania's recent actions mirror a broader trend across Africa, where internet disruptions frequently coincide with periods of public unrest or political sensitivity.