Facebook parent company Meta yesterday confirmed blocking the Instagram accounts of prominent Tanzanian activists Maria Sarungi-Tsehai and Mange Kimambi, triggering fierce criticism across East Africa.
Social media restrictions enforced on the two influential civil society voices has also raised concerns about the power of governments to influence global digital platforms.
In a statement issued to CNN yesterday, Meta, who also own Instagram, said Kimambi’s accounts were removed for repeatedly breaching platform rules.
The Meta statement reads: “While we believe freedom of expression is a fundamental right and that our platforms should be a place where users around the world can exercise this right, we have strict rules about what is and isn’t allowed on our platforms. These Instagram accounts were removed for violating our recidivism policy. We don’t allow people to create new accounts that are similar to those we’ve previously removed for violating our Community Standards.”
On Sarungi-Tsehai, Meta confirmed it acted at the request of Tanzanian authorities. “Following a legal order from Tanzanian regulators, we have restricted access to this Instagram account in Tanzania in response to regulatory demands.”
Both activists fired back on X about the infringement on their digital rights. Sarungi-Tsehai accused Meta of acting without transparency. “I need @meta @instagram to explain why they did not notify me at all and for transparency what ‘legal order’ does a mere Regulatory Authority in Tanzania have over a US-based company!” she wrote.
Kimambi, whose permanent Instagram disabling cut off a platform where she had millions of followers, said: “I believe this provides further evidence that Meta may have been pressured by the Tanzanian government to silence voices speaking out for the people.”
The move has sparked outrage among digital-rights advocates, who accuse Meta of aiding President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration in silencing the issues raised by Tanzanians following the post-election violence witnessed in October.
The October 29 elections, which saw President Samia garner more than 97% of the vote, were followed by deadly clashes after opposition figures were barred from participating and their supporters took to the streets.
Rights groups claim hundreds of Tanzanians were killed in the crackdown by security forces, while the government imposed an internet shutdown lasting several days, cutting off communication as violence surged. Authorities have not released casualty figures but insist security forces acted against protesters “ready to overthrow the government.”
Tanzania government spokesperson Gerson Msigwa dismissed claims that authorities pressured Meta and said the activists must “provide proof” of their allegations.
The escalation comes as the United States yesterday issued a sharply worded statement saying it is reviewing its relationship with Tanzania following a CNN investigation exposing abuses around the election.
The US State Department yesterday warned: “Recent actions by the Government of Tanzania raise grave concerns about the direction of our bilateral relationship. Repression of free speech, barriers to US investment and disturbing violence against civilians had put American citizens, tourists, and US interests at risk.”
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