After nearly a week-long communications black-out in Tanzania following its contentious 29 October general election, internet services have started to return, although major social-media platforms and messaging apps continue to be blocked or severely disrupted, raising serious concerns over digital rights and freedom of expression in this East African nation.
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Authorities on Monday restored mobile data services, giving many users access to websites and emails after nationwide shutdown during election day protests had halted most mobile internet traffic for days.
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However, network metrics demonstrate that even with widespread internet access restored, social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Telegram, TikTok and X (formerly Twitter) remain virtually inaccessible to many. Reachability estimates range between 0%-40% depending on provider. TechAfrica News
These restrictions follow an election critics consider unfair, in which opposition supporters claimed widespread irregularities were covered up amid heavy-handed security response measures.
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Civil-rights groups have denounced the shutdown as part of an increasing trend towards government control of digital communications and public discourse. Amnesty International also expressed their disapproval.
Normal internet services have resumed, yet the targeted blocking of specific social platforms raises red-flags. Social-media access is essential for information-sharing, protests and accountability monitoring; its continued suppression may be seen as an attempt to limit public scrutiny during an otherwise highly charged political period. Experts note Tanzania’s prior history in taking similar measures during elections or protests; international digital rights organisations have long warned about Tanzania’s “internet weaponisation.” The Guardian.
TechAfrica News reports: Unfortunately, the government has yet to provide an official timeline or criteria for restoring full access. As users report intermittent connectivity, many are resorting to virtual private networks (VPNs) as a solution–something which carries inherent legal risks in South Africa.
Humanitarian observers report that due to the shutdown, monitoring of protest-related violence has been severely impaired. Amnesty International asserts that communication blackout impeded documentation of allegations concerning deaths, detentions and excessive force by security forces in the days following voting.
Amnesty International Authorities earlier imposed a curfew, deployed the military in major cities and restricted movements in Dar es Salaam and other urban centres after hundreds of thousands took to the streets to protest what they claimed was an unfair election process, according to Daily Sabah reports.
Digital-rights advocates argue that although internet connectivity has partially resumed, ongoing social-media blocks reveal an emerging model of selective censorship involving targeting high-traffic platforms rather than full shutdowns of sites and services. “Information flow is being managed rather than restored,” according to one regional analyst.

As Tanzania transitions into its post-election phase, its digital environment will remain under international scrutiny. Restoring unrestricted access to social media is seen not only as convenient, but as essential to transparency, accountability and freedom of communication–an argument highlighted by groups who issued pre-election calls for the government to “KeepItOn”. You Can Access Now
Overall, Tanzania’s surface connectivity may have returned, yet deeper restrictions on social-media platforms demonstrate that digital freedom has not yet been fully restored. Protests, scrutiny and civic debate continue; therefore the coming days will be crucial in determining if Tanzania’s online environment returns to normal or remains under state-imposed digital restrictions.