Tanzania Faces Continued Social Media Restrictions After Five-Day Internet Shutdown

Global internet observatory NetBlocks has reported that access to multiple social media and messaging platforms remains heavily restricted in Tanzania, even as the country reconnects to the internet after a five-day nationwide shutdown.

According to live network metrics published by NetBlocks on Monday, major platforms — including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, Telegram, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter) — continue to experience severe disruptions and service outages across leading internet service providers such as Tigo, Vodacom, and Airtel.

Data from NetBlocks’ “Online Platform Feature Restrictions” chart for November 3, 2025, shows that platform reachability has dropped to between 0% and 40%, depending on the ISP and service. For example, Facebook and YouTube’s content delivery networks (CDNs) show less than 40% reachability, while platforms such as X, Telegram, and WhatsApp are almost completely inaccessible on most networks.

The restrictions coincide with measures imposed during Tanzania’s recent national elections, raising significant concerns about transparency, public communication, and the free flow of information. NetBlocks stated that “the incident continues to limit election transparency and the free flow of information,” underscoring the broader impact of the connectivity disruptions on democratic processes.

Experts note that the targeted blocking of social media and messaging apps has become a recurring feature during politically sensitive events in several regions, as authorities seek to control the spread of information. The Tanzanian case, however, stands out for its duration and the scale of its restrictions across multiple ISPs.

Civil society groups and digital rights advocates have called on the government to fully restore access to online communication platforms and uphold citizens’ rights to free expression and information. As of publication, Tanzanian authorities have not issued an official statement addressing the ongoing restrictions or provided a timeline for when normal access will resume.

The NetBlocks findings reflect an emerging pattern of selective digital suppression across Africa during elections, highlighting growing tensions between governance, technology, and democratic accountability.