Access to the social media platform X has been restricted in Tanzania after hackers targeted several official government and private sector accounts, including the country’s national police.
On Tuesday, the official police X account was compromised, with hackers posting sexually explicit material and false claims, including one alleging that the president had died. Authorities quickly distanced themselves from the content and announced an investigation to trace those responsible.
Shortly afterward, NetBlocks, an internet monitoring group, reported that X had become “unreachable on major internet providers” throughout Tanzania. Users in Dar es Salaam, the country’s largest city, confirmed they could not access the platform without a virtual private network (VPN), which is illegal in Tanzania without a government-issued permit.
The Tanzanian government has not officially stated whether it is blocking X, but Information Minister Jerry Silaa acknowledged the hacking incident and told parliament that the compromised accounts had since been secured.
Government spokesman Gerson Msigwa issued a stern warning, stating that immediate action was being taken against those behind the cyberattacks. However, no suspects have been named so far.
The restriction on X comes as Tanzania faces mounting political tension following the deportation of several Kenyan nationals who had travelled to attend a high-profile court case involving opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who is facing treason charges.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan, in a speech on Monday, accused foreign activists particularly from Kenya of attempting to meddle in Tanzania’s internal affairs and warned that such interference would not be tolerated.
Among those deported was Kenya’s former Justice Minister Martha Karua. Two other activists Kenyan Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan Agather Atuhaire were reportedly arrested by suspected military officers. Their whereabouts remain unknown, and Tanzanian authorities have not commented on their detention.
Mwangi’s wife, Njeri, told BBC’s Newsday that she last heard from her husband on Monday and fears for his safety. “I know my husband. He would have found a way to communicate. The silence makes me extremely worried,” she said.
Boniface Mwabukusi, president of the Tanganyika Law Society, initially said the two had been deported but later confirmed they were being held by immigration authorities. “Our legal team on the ground is actively monitoring the situation and exploring appropriate legal remedies,” he said in a post on X.
