From May 20 to May 21, 2025, Tanzanians faced a wave of digital restrictions impacting their X accounts. This shutdown occurred without any official announcement from the government or telecommunications companies in Tanzania.
The X platform was disabled without proper procedure, a public explanation, or legal justification. The restrictions followed a security breach, where hackers took over the official X account of the Tanzanian Police Force and posted explicit content, along with false claims regarding the death of President Samia Suluhu Hassan on May 20, 2025.
Other X accounts impacted included those of the Tanzanian Police Force, the Tanzania Revenue Authority, Airtel Tanzania, and the YouTube channels of the ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and the University of Dar es Salaam, as reported by The Internet Government Tanzania Working Group (IGTWG).
In response to the incident, President Samia Suluhu Hassan stated on May 19 that she would not permit foreign activists to meddle in Tanzania’s internal matters or incite unrest.
The government believes this situation arose amid increasing political tension, following the arrest and deportation of several East African activists and lawyers who sought to observe opposition leader Tundu Lissu’s treason trial in Tanzania.
This led to the deportation of notable Kenyan figures, including former Justice Minister Martha Kaura, who had come to attend a court hearing for Lissu, who is currently facing treason charges.
The Internet Government Tanzania Working Group emphasized in its statement that this shutdown, executed without public notice, infringes on essential digital rights and freedoms. They further reminded the public that access to information is a fundamental human right recognized in international and regional legal obligations.
AFEX calls on the government of Tanzania to restore complete access to citizens’ X accounts and to enhance cybersecurity measures nationwide.
Additionally, AFEX urges the government and telecommunications companies to establish clear guidelines that ensure any future restrictions on internet services comply with constitutional due process and international norms and standards. These restrictions should be limited in scope and publicly justified.
