Tanzanian Authorities Restrict Access to X Following Cyber-assaults and Hoax Rumors about the President's Demise.
In mid-2025, Tanzania imposed a ban on social media platforms, notably blocking access to X (formerly Twitter), following a series of cyberattacks targeting official government accounts. The ban is part of government measures aimed at protecting national cybersecurity.
The social media ban in Tanzania has significant implications for elections and free expression. Social media platforms are critical spaces for political communication, campaigning, and voter engagement, particularly in Tanzania where traditional media can be state-influenced. By restricting access, the ban limits citizens' ability to share political opinions, organize, and access information, potentially undermining democratic discourse and transparency around elections.
The ban on social media platforms has been met with concern by opposition leaders, activists, and journalists who rely on these platforms for their work. Tundu Lissu, a Tanzanian opposition figure facing treason charges, is one such individual. The shutdown comes just months before general elections in October, raising fears that the government is using the cyberattacks as a justification for broader crackdowns on dissent ahead of the vote.
Experiences in comparable African contexts illustrate the risks. Governments have been known to use social media restrictions and surveillance tools to suppress dissent and control electoral narratives. For example, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, activists and journalists have faced arrests and spyware infiltration linked to anti-government content shared online. Such restrictions frequently create a chilling effect on free expression, as people fear digital surveillance or reprisals.
Cybersecurity concerns have indeed been rising sharply in East Africa, with countries like Kenya experiencing billions of threats within months of 2025. However, the measures often disproportionately affect political opposition and civil society. In Tanzania's case, the social media ban, coupled with other protective economic measures, reflects a broader governmental strategy to assert control over both digital space and the economy.
The compromised accounts posted fake news and explicit content, with one post falsely claiming President Samia Suluhu Hassan had died. The investigations into the cyberattacks are still ongoing. Access to X is currently only accessible via VPN, which is illegal in Tanzania without state approval. President Hassan declared that no foreigner would be allowed to disturb Tanzania's peace.
Recently, Kenyan opposition leader Martha Karua was denied entry into Tanzania. She planned to attend a hearing for Tundu Lissu, who faces treason charges, a crime punishable by death in Tanzania. The blockage of X fits a pattern of digital censorship under President Hassan, who is seeking reelection.
In summary, the social media ban in Tanzania, while purportedly aimed at protecting national cybersecurity, raises concerns about the impact on elections and free expression. The ban curtails political speech and civic participation, increasing risks of self-censorship and suppression of dissent. The situation illustrates a tension between national cybersecurity and safeguarding democratic freedoms in Tanzania’s evolving digital landscape.
In light of the social media ban, concerns about its implications for elections and free expression persist, as these platforms serve as critical spaces for political communication and democrat discourse in Tanzania. The restriction on access could potentially undermine the transparency around elections and citizens' ability to share opinions and organize.
The ban's impact on crime and justice is also noteworthy, as opposition leaders, activists, and journalists rely on social media for their work, and its enforcement raises fears of broader crackdowns on dissent before the October general elections. This scenario, combined with the increasing cyberattacks in East Africa, points to a broader governmental strategy aimed at asserting control over digital space.
