DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania– n a swift and sweeping response to a major cybersecurity incident, the Tanzanian government has blocked access to X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, after hackers took control of the official account of the Tanzania Police Force.
The attackers published a false announcement claiming President Samia Suluhu Hassan had died, triggering widespread confusion before officials quickly moved to debunk the claim.
Government spokespersons described the breach as a “deliberate act of digital sabotage” and have launched a multi-agency investigation to identify the perpetrators.
Authorities have urged the public to remain calm and disregard misinformation circulating online. “We will not allow malicious actors to undermine national stability through digital warfare,” the Minister for Information and Communication Technology said at a press briefing Wednesday morning.
This is the latest in a series of tech-related crackdowns in Tanzania, where the government has been grappling with balancing digital freedom and state control in the age of online misinformation.
The ban on X is expected to remain in effect pending completion of forensic investigations.
In a separate development drawing criticism from human rights groups and foreign governments, Kenyan photojournalist and activist Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan lawyer Agather Atuhaire remain in Tanzanian custody.
The two were arrested earlier this week while attempting to observe the trial of Tanzanian opposition figure Tundu Lissu, who is facing treason charges stemming from his vocal criticism of the government.
Initially reported as having been deported, the activists are now confirmed to be held by the Tanzanian Immigration Department.
According to their legal teams, they were not granted access to lawyers or allowed to communicate with their respective embassies for over 48 hours.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan, addressing the arrests at a press conference, stated that “no foreign actor will be allowed to interfere in our sovereign judicial processes.” She accused certain international groups of attempting to politicize Tanzania’s legal proceedings under the guise of human rights advocacy.
The detentions have drawn a stern rebuke from regional observers, including Kenya’s Law Society and Uganda’s opposition parties, who called for the immediate release of the two individuals and demanded that Tanzania uphold international human rights obligations.
