Tanzanian authorities have restricted access to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) after hackers infiltrated the official police account and falsely announced the death of President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
The unprecedented breach, confirmed by internet monitoring group NetBlocks on Tuesday, prompted an immediate nationwide blackout of the platform as security forces launched a manhunt for the perpetrators.
The disruption began when the compromised @tanpol account posted alarming claims about the president’s supposed demise—a brazen act of digital sabotage that triggered outrage within government circles.
NetBlocks’ real-time data showed X becoming “unreachable on major internet providers” across the East African nation shortly after the fake announcement circulated.
The Tanzanian Police Force swiftly disavowed the post, calling it “false, misleading and unethical information” designed to sow panic.
In an official statement, police vowed to track down those behind the cyberattack, emphasising the severity of undermining state institutions through fabricated alerts. “We continue to hunt these criminals to ensure their arrest,” authorities declared, urging citizens to disregard the viral misinformation.
The incident marks one of Tanzania’s most high-profile social media breaches since the government lifted a six-year ban on X in 2021, originally imposed during John Magufuli’s presidency.
While the shutdown prevents further spread of the false presidential death rumour, digital rights advocates warn the move sets a concerning precedent.
“Internet blackouts cannot become the default response to cybersecurity incidents,” said Maria Sarungi-Tsehai, a Tanzanian activist with the #KeepItOn coalition. The government has yet to specify when X access will be restored, leaving journalists and businesses grappling with disrupted communications.
The breach comes amid heightened regional cybersecurity concerns, with neighbouring Kenya and Uganda recently strengthening laws against digital misinformation. As Tanzania’s investigation continues, the episode underscores both the vulnerability of official social media accounts and the challenges governments face in combating digital deception without infringing on connectivity.
