On Wednesday, October 29, Tanzania allegedly faced a countrywide internet shutdown as it held elections, severely limiting online communication.
Data from NetBlocks, a global internet monitoring organization, confirmed a nationwide interruption in connectivity, describing the event as a ‘digital blackout’ across the East African nation.
Before the internet shutdown, tensions in Tanzania had been rising, with the election period marked by protests and vandalism.
Tanzania Hit by Nationwide Internet Outage on Election Day as Protests Erupt. Photo: Courtesy.
Videos showed demonstrators blocking roads, clashing with police, and throwing stones, prompting security forces to fire teargas at mostly youthful crowds.
Authorities had warned against protests and deployed armoured vehicles and tanks in major cities.
Elections began Wednesday morning but saw low turnout, partly because main challengers to President Samia Suluhu Hassan were jailed or barred from contesting.
The nationwide internet shutdown is believed to have been intentional, aimed at limiting public access to updates on unrest.
A day before the polls, regional human rights groups condemned the vote as a “sham,” accusing the government of human rights violations and opposition suppression.
