Access to the social media platform X has been restricted in Tanzania following a series of cyberattacks targeting official accounts belonging to both government bodies and private institutions.
On Tuesday, the official account of the Tanzanian police was hacked, with explicit content and false reports — including claims that the president had died — being posted.
The police quickly disassociated itself from the posts and announced that an investigation had been launched to identify the perpetrators behind the cyberattack.
A few hours later, internet monitoring organization NetBlocks reported that X was “unreachable on major internet providers” throughout the country. By Wednesday, users in Dar es Salaam — Tanzania’s largest city — still reported being unable to access the platform, although some users in other regions said they could log in.
Information Minister Jerry Silaa confirmed the hacking incident and told members of parliament that the affected government social media accounts had since been secured.
Earlier, government spokesperson Gerson Msigwa issued a warning to those responsible, stating that immediate action was being taken.
The restriction of X comes amid ongoing controversy surrounding the deportation of high-profile Kenyan citizens, who were barred from attending a court hearing for Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who faces treason charges.
On Monday, President Samia Suluhu Hassan cautioned activists from neighboring Kenya not to “interfere” in Tanzania’s internal matters or incite “chaos.”
This statement came after Kenya’s former Justice Minister Martha Karua and several others were deported upon arrival to attend Lissu’s court session.
In a related incident, Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan journalist Agather Atuhaire were reportedly arrested in Dar es Salaam on Monday by individuals believed to be military officers. Their current whereabouts remain unknown.