A social media account linked to the Tanzania Police Force was compromised early Tuesday morning, with hackers posting unverified content targeting President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
The breach occurred on the Police Force’s official X (formerly Twitter) account, which has a following of over 468,000. The unauthorized activity included a live broadcast and multiple misleading updates, the last of which appeared on Saturday, May 17.
The account, routinely used by the police to provide updates on criminal investigations and national security matters, has since drawn widespread attention over the digital intrusion.
The Tanzania Police Force has launched a manhunt for individuals responsible for spreading false and unethical information on the social media platform.
In a public statement issued from Police Headquarters in Dodoma, the police clarified that the reports circulating online purporting to be from the Tanzania Police are entirely false and do not reflect the official position of the force.
The police emphasized that they do not recognize or endorse the content of these reports and confirmed that no such information has been released through their official channels.
The incident unfolds amid mounting political tension in the country, as President Suluhu continues to clash with opposition figure Tundu Lissu, who is currently facing treason charges.
On Monday, President Suluhu addressed growing foreign interest in Lissu’s case, stating that international activists would not be allowed to interfere in Tanzania’s internal affairs. Her remarks followed the deportation of several Kenyan human rights defenders, including Martha Karua and Former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, who had attempted to attend the opposition leader’s trial.
