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Access to the social media platform X has reportedly been restricted in Tanzania following a cyberattack that compromised official accounts of government and private institutions.
According to the BBC, the country’s official police account was hacked on Tuesday, with sexually explicit content and false reports, including claims of the president’s death, being posted.
The police later distanced themselves from the information and announced that investigations were underway to identify those behind the attack.
Hours later, internet monitoring organisation NetBlocks reportedly detected that X had become “unreachable on major internet providers” across Tanzania.
As of Wednesday, users in Dar es Salaam, the country’s largest city, could reportedly still not access the platform unless through Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)—a practice that is illegal without a permit.
However, users in other regions indicated they could still log on.
Authorities have not officially confirmed whether they are blocking access to X.
However, Information Minister Jerry Silaa acknowledged the hacking incident and told lawmakers that the affected government social media accounts had since been secured.
Earlier, government spokesman, Gerson Msigwa, warned that immediate action was being taken against those responsible.
The reported access issues come amid ongoing controversy over the deportation of prominent Kenyan nationals, who were barred from attending a court case involving Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who is facing treason charges.
On Monday, President Samia Suluhu Hassan reportedly warned that activists from neighbouring Kenya would not be allowed to “meddle” in Tanzania’s internal affairs or create “chaos.” This followed the deportation of Kenya’s former Justice Minister Martha Karua and others who had travelled to attend Lissu’s hearing.
Separately, Kenyan activist, Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan journalist, Agather Atuhaire, were reportedly arrested on Monday in Dar es Salaam by individuals believed to be military officers.
Their whereabouts remain unknown, and Tanzanian authorities have not issued an official statement on the matter.
Mwangi’s wife, Njeri, told the BBC’s Newsday programme that she last heard from him on Monday and was growing increasingly concerned.
“I’m actually concerned for his life. I know my husband—he would have communicated, he’d find a way to call or text me, and because he hasn’t, it makes me very worried about what state he is in,” she said.
Meanwhile, Boniface Mwabukusi, president of the Tanganyika Law Society, stated on Wednesday that the two activists were reportedly being held by the immigration department, despite earlier reports that they had been deported.
“Our legal team on the ground is actively monitoring the situation and exploring appropriate legal remedies to facilitate a just and timely resolution,” Mwabukusi posted on X.
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