Tanzania faces internet blackout amid escalating election tensions

By Dumisani Sigogo

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan is facing uproar over internet disruptions.

Tanzania has witnessed a widespread internet blackout as a result of government-imposed restrictions that began during the country's disputed general elections, prompting criticism from worldwide internet freedom campaigners and watchdog organisations.

According to NetBlocks, an independent organisation that monitors internet governance and cybersecurity issues throughout the world, connectivity in Tanzania decreased drastically on election day and has been largely disrupted for two nights in a row, Wednesday and Thursday.

The group reported that access was only temporarily restored on Thursday before being cut off again.

“Live network data shows a nationwide disruption to internet connectivity in Tanzania on election day, corroborating reports of a digital blackout,” NetBlocks reported. “The censorship measure continues to severely limit transparency at a critical moment.”

The shutdown coincided with hotly contested presidential and parliamentary elections, in which opposition groups claimed serious violations.

There were also reports of a curfew being imposed, raising worries about civic freedoms and access to information.

Tanzania's blackout is one of the most widespread internet outages in East Africa in recent years. Analysts say that such digital filtering undermines openness, impedes journalism, and jeopardises the legitimacy of democratic processes.

Internet shutdowns have become a regular political tool in areas of Africa, where governments frequently use the terms "security" or "public order" to justify restrictions.

However, organisations such as Access Now and Human Rights Watch argue that these digital network outages impair critical communication, corporate operations, and emergency services while silencing opposition voices online.