The Tanzanian government has temporarily shut down access to the X platform after the official police account (Tanpol) was hacked by unknown individuals who posted a false message claiming President Samia Suluhu Hassan had died — although she is alive and well.
This incident occurred on May 20, 2025, when the false message was published and quickly went viral across social media. The NetBlocks organization confirmed that the X platform has been inaccessible in Tanzania since then.
Police immediately disowned the message, describing it as a hoax spread through deception, and announced that an investigation had been launched to identify and apprehend those responsible.
It is suspected that those behind the post were opponents of the president’s recent stance against human rights activists from Kenya who sought to monitor the trial of Tundu Lissu.
The police urged the public to ignore the false claims and warned that anyone found spreading the misinformation would face serious consequences.
