By: Kamal Yalwa
Tanzania blocked access to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday following the hacking of a police account that falsely announced the death of the country’s president. Internet watchdog NetBlocks confirmed the shutdown, noting that X had become inaccessible on major internet providers across the country.
The disruption occurred amid rising political tensions and the recent arrest of regional activists Boniface Mwangi of Kenya and Agather Atuhaire of Uganda. The two were in Tanzania to attend the ongoing trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who faces treason charges ahead of the country’s upcoming elections in October. Their sudden disappearance after being taken by Tanzanian police has sparked regional concern.
According to NetBlocks, the shutdown was triggered after the compromised police account posted the false death claim, which reportedly angered Tanzania’s leadership. The country’s Minister of Information, Communications, and Technology, Jerry William Silaa, confirmed in parliament that not only was the police account hacked, but the official YouTube channel of the tax authority was also breached. He attributed the breaches to weak digital security protocols, adding that both accounts have since been restored.
In response, Tanzanian police have launched a manhunt for those behind the cyberattack and the dissemination of the false information. Authorities have also warned the public against sharing unverified or misleading content online.
