Tanzania Blocks Access To X After Police Handle Was Hacked with Fake Death Claims of President Suluhu

Tanzania is reeling from a wave of cyberattacks that culminated in partial internet shutdown and restrictions on the social media platform X, following the hacking of the Tanzania Police Force’s official X account.

The compromised account was used to spread false reports of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s death, triggering widespread panic and prompting swift action from authorities.

According to live metrics from internet observatory NetBlocks, access to X was disrupted on major internet providers across Tanzania on Tuesday, May 20, 2025.

The restrictions came shortly after hackers breached the police’s X account, which boasts nearly 468,000 followers, in the early hours of the morning.

The attackers posted misleading information, including a fabricated statement in Swahili announcing President Suluhu’s death, “kwa masikitiko makubwa tunathibitisha kifo cha Rais wa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania…” (With great sorrow, we confirm the death of the President of the United Republic of Tanzania).

The hackers also hosted a live video session, amplifying the misinformation.

The Tanzania Police Force regained control of the account and issued a public statement confirming the breach, urging citizens to disregard the false reports.

Authorities have launched a manhunt for the perpetrators, with investigations underway to identify those responsible for what has been described as a coordinated cyberattack targeting not only the police but also other high-profile accounts, including those of Airtel Tanzania and the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party.

The timing of the cyberattacks has raised concerns, as Tanzania is currently navigating heightened political tensions.

President Suluhu is embroiled in a high-profile standoff with opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who faces treason charges following his arrest at a political rally advocating for electoral reforms ahead of the October 2025 elections.

On Monday, six Kenyan human rights activists, including prominent figures Boniface Mwangi and former Justice Minister Martha Karua, were detained or deported while attempting to observe Lissu’s court hearing, prompting accusations of foreign interference from Suluhu.

In a televised address on Monday, President Suluhu expressed concerns about regional activists attempting to “intrude and interfere” in Tanzania’s affairs, urging security forces to block “ill-mannered individuals” from destabilizing the country.

The cyberattacks and subsequent X restrictions have fueled speculation about their motives, with some netizens alleging Kenyan involvement in the hacks, though no evidence has substantiated these claims.

Tanzania has a history of restricting online content, including a 2024 ban on three major newspapers’ online editions for publishing an animation deemed critical of Suluhu.