Major Tanzanian Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have restricted access to the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) amidst escalating political tensions according to internet monitoring group NetBlocks on Friday. This shutdown takes place as authorities issue warnings about potential opposition party actions aimed at freeing political prisoners from police custody.

The affected ISPs include the country’s most prominent providers such as Vodacom, Airtel and TTCL. NetBlocks’ data revealed that X’s reachability on these networks has been drastically reduced, making it nearly impossible for Tanzanians to use the platform. Vodacom, one of Tanzania’s largest ISPs, is reported to have completely blocked all X-related services, with similar disruptions observed on other major providers. This nationwide block has raised significant concerns about the potential for a full-scale internet shutdown, a move that could severely curtail communication and the spread of information within the country.

The timing of this move appears to be closely linked to a police alert warning of alleged plans by opposition parties to storm police stations and liberate political prisoners. Tanzanian activist Maria Sarungi Tsehai has been vocal about the ongoing detentions of several individuals who are considered political prisoners. In a social media post, Tsehai shared images of the detainees, including Jacob Mlay, Dioniz and Deusdedith Soka, urging the public to rally support.

This incident in Tanzania echoes a broader pattern of internet restrictions across Africa, where governments increasingly use shutdowns as a tool to control information flow during periods of political unrest. Similar restrictions were witnessed in Kenya during the June 2024 protests against the Finance Bill, where major internet disruptions were reported and were widely believed to be a government-enforced shutdown intended to stifle protests. In Nigeria, a significant internet disruption occurred during the #EndBadGovernance protests, which called for police reform and an end to corruption. Senegal also faced a nationwide internet outage after the government delayed elections earlier this year. In 2023 alone, sub-Saharan Africa lost $1.74 billion due to government-induced internet shutdowns, with 114 incidents recorded across 23 countries.