Tanzania faces Internet blackout and disruptions on election day

Tanzania experienced widespread internet disruptions as citizens headed to the polls to elect a new president, legislators, and local leaders. Around 37.6 million voters were expected to cast their ballots on Wednesday 29 October 2025, following early voting in Zanzibar. The election marks President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s first contest since assuming office in 2021 after the death of John Pombe Magufuli.

However, election day was marred by technical chaos, with monitoring group NetBlocks reporting a nationwide internet blackout. Users across the country faced difficulties sharing multimedia on messaging apps, while access to major social media platforms—including Facebook, X, YouTube, and Instagram—was severely limited or unavailable.

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