On Tuesday, Tanzania again blocked access to X following a major cyberattack on the official Tanzania Police Force X account. The hacked account spread false claims that President Samia Suluhu Hassan had died, sparking confusion and alarm across the country.
This blackout marks the second time in less than a year that Tanzania has shut down X, highlighting growing tensions between the government and social media platforms amid political unrest.
Police account hack spreads false death rumors
The hacking of the Tanzania Police Force’s X account shocked many users. With over 470,000 followers, the account is a key source of official information. Early on May 20, hackers posted fake news announcing the death of President Samia Suluhu Hassan. The false posts also included inflammatory statements about opposition leader Tundu Lissu and calls for free elections. These messages quickly circulated before police regained control of the account.
The Tanzania Police Force swiftly condemned the misinformation. In an official statement, they said, “The circulating information is entirely false. The Police Force does not, and would never, publish such content through its official platforms.” Authorities urged the public to ignore the false claims and warned that investigations were underway to find those responsible for the hack.
This cyberattack is particularly alarming, given Tanzania’s political climate. President Suluhu is preparing for the October 2025 elections, where she faces growing opposition. The hacking incident and the resulting misinformation campaign appear to destabilize the government and undermine public trust.
Political crackdown and social media shutdown
The blackout of X came shortly after President Suluhu instructed police to “protect” social media platforms in the interest of national security. Critics argue this directive tightens government control over online spaces, especially as opposition voices grow louder ahead of elections.
Tanzania has a history of restricting internet access during political unrest. Last July, the government also blocked X for several weeks, citing concerns over misinformation and threats to public order. This latest shutdown deepens worries about the country's freedom of expression and access to information.
Opposition leader Tundu Lissu remains imprisoned on treason charges, and his party, Chadema, has been barred from participating in the upcoming presidential race. Meanwhile, two prominent regional activists, Kenyan Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan Agather Atuhaire, were detained by Tanzanian police and have since disappeared, raising alarm among human rights groups.
The cyberattack also targeted other major Tanzanian X accounts, including Simba SC football club and Airtel Tanzania. These accounts posted the same false news about the president’s death, spreading panic before the truth was clarified.
International observers and internet freedom advocates are closely monitoring Tanzania’s actions. The repeated shutdowns of X and the suppression of dissenting voices suggest a growing government effort to control the digital narrative ahead of critical elections.
As Tanzania grapples with these challenges, the role of social media in shaping political discourse remains a contentious issue. X's recent hack and blackout underscore the fragile balance between security concerns and the public’s right to information in the digital age.