Tanzania remains tense as citizens continue to experience a partial internet blackout, days after the restoration of limited access following a disputed general election.
Despite the government’s move to allow partial connectivity, many online platforms, including social media and messaging services, remain restricted, cutting off millions from vital communication channels.
The blackout, which began on October 29, coincided with an election day marred by unrest, demonstrations, and widespread reports of voter intimidation.
According to NetBlocks, a global internet observatory, Tanzania’s internet access has not been fully restored. Live network data released on Monday evening showed significant disruptions across multiple websites, with major platforms like WhatsApp, X, and Facebook still inaccessible to many users.
The restrictions have made it difficult for citizens and journalists to share updates or verify incidents of violence that occurred during and after the election.
Amnesty International condemned the internet restrictions, describing them as a serious violation of human rights. The organization warned that shutting down the internet during a time of public protest prevents essential information from reaching citizens, including alerts about safety or emergency services.
In its statement, Amnesty further expressed concern that such restrictions hinder both local and international organizations from documenting human rights violations, including police brutality and unlawful killings.
The group emphasized that transparency and communication are essential during times of political tension, not suppression and fear.
As partial access returned on Monday evening, many Tanzanians were met with a warning message from the police, cautioning against sharing photos or videos that could allegedly cause public panic.
Authorities insisted that such actions could lead to unrest and said offenders would face severe consequences. The Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner, Alfred Chalamila, made a controversial statement warning citizens against spreading what he termed as propaganda.
He declared that any attempt to challenge authority through social media would be met with a force seven times stronger than what was used to create the issue in the first place.
In addition to the digital restrictions, the country remains under a strict curfew beginning at 6 pm, with police deployed heavily in major towns.
Residents say the situation feels like a lockdown, as security forces continue to patrol the streets and enforce order.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared the winner of the presidential election with a staggering 98 percent of the vote, a figure that opposition parties and observers have called unrealistic.
Her swearing-in ceremony at the State House in Dodoma was held behind closed doors, attended only by selected guests, further fueling public frustration over the government’s handling of the electoral process.
The opposition party Chadema has accused security forces of killing hundreds of protestors during post-election demonstrations, though the government has strongly denied these claims, calling the figures grossly exaggerated.
Still, reports from various human rights groups suggest that several cases of assault and unlawful detention have gone unverified due to the communication blackout.
The continued restriction of information has raised fears that Tanzania is sliding into deeper authoritarian control.
Activists and civil society organizations have condemned the government’s approach, describing it as a deliberate attempt to silence dissent and conceal the true extent of violence witnessed during the election period.
Tanzanians remain in uncertainty, disconnected from the world, and fearful of speaking out under an administration that appears determined to control both the narrative and the flow of information.
