Tanzania recently suspended the online operations of a leading newspaper, The Citizen, after it released cartoons featuring President Samia Suluhu Hassan and referencing recent abductions and killings of dissidents. The animated videos depicted President Hassan watching news broadcasts of dissidents and victims of state repression, sparking criticism both domestically and internationally.
Following allegations that security forces were behind the kidnapping and murder of opposition figures, Hassan’s government has banned two major rallies by the opposition Chadema party and detained its leaders. The Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority described the cartoons as presenting “negative interpretations” that undermine national unity and peace.
Although The Citizen has removed the animations and issued a statement in response to the suspension, concerns remain about an apparent crackdown on dissent ahead of local elections in November and the general election in 2025. The move has drawn criticism from rights groups and Western governments, highlighting growing tensions in the country’s political landscape.