On Wednesday, October 29, as Tanzanians went to the polls to elect their President, members of the National Assembly, and ward councillors in the 2025 general elections, they were denied a vital element of any democratic process: access to information. This came as a result of a premeditated internet blackout that rendered most media platforms inaccessible except through virtual private networks (VPNs).

According to network data from NetBlocks, an internet observatory firm, connectivity dropped by almost 90% compared to the previous week. The blackout reportedly coincided with the opening of polling stations and the emergence of protests in parts of the East African country. The BBC reported gunfire in the northern city of Mwanza, while clashes broke out in the capital, Dodoma, and in Dar es Salaam, which was under heavy security with major roads blocked.

These developments are seen as deterrents to the rule of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, whose government has been accused of undermining democracy, as her main opposition remains in jail, while another was disqualified from the election, significantly boosting Samia’s chances of victory.

The internet shutdown is allegedly part of broader measures aimed at tightening control of information, echoing the events of the 2020 general elections when authorities restricted access to WhatsApp, X, and Telegram. During that time, telecom operators were ordered to suspend bulk SMS and voice services. X has also remained banned in the country since May 2025 under the pretext of curbing misinformation and enhancing cybersecurity.