Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is facing growing criticism after disabling accounts belonging to prominent Tanzanian activists Maria Sarungi, Mange Kimambi, and restricting access to others within Tanzania.
The move has sparked outrage among digital rights advocates, who accuse Meta of aiding President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration in silencing the issues addressed by the people of Tanzania.
Meta Accounts Disabled and Restricted
Mange Kimambi, a Tanzanian activist based in the U.S., had her official Instagram account, which had millions of followers, permanently disabled for allegedly violating Meta’s Community Standards.
In a letter addressed to U.S President Donald Trump, Mange Kimambi has asked for support in defending democratic activism and freedom of expression online.
“Recently, my Meta accounts — including Instagram (@mangekimambi80), Instagram News media page owned by me (@wananchiforum), and my WhatsApp number (+1 424-537-3057) — were deactivated after I raised awareness about a series of severe abuses and horrific events occurring in Tanzania.”
Kimambi, who the Tanzanian government announced plans to seek her extradition from the U.S., is known for using her social media accounts to criticize President Samia Suluhu and the ruling party in Tanzania, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), and to raise awareness of severe abuses and horrific events occurring in Tanzania.
According to Kimambi, she only used her platforms to highlight these issues and consistently encouraged peaceful protests, as many Tanzanians feel there is no safe alternative for expressing their grievances.
“Every post I made emphasized peaceful, non-violent protests. Traditional media inside Tanzania has been effectively silenced; journalists who speak out risk being kidnapped, disappeared, or killed. This leaves social-media platforms run by diaspora activists like me as one of the last remaining channels for Tanzanians to document and expose abuses.”
Kimambi stressed that the removal of her social media accounts has severely affected the ability of Tanzanians to access truthful information and organize themselves safely.
Tanzanian Activists Under Threat
In the letter to President Trump, Kimambi also cited her fellow activist Maria Sarungi’s case, whose Instagram page is based in Tanzania and is only accessible through a VPN.
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In a screenshot shared on X by Maria Sarungi, she displayed how she could not access her WhatsApp account after the move by Meta.
“Account not available in Tanzania. This is because we complied with a legal request from Tanzania Communication Regulatory Authority to restrict this content.”
CNN journalist Larry Madowo amplified the controversy on X after his unsuccessful attempt to find the root cause of the banning of the accounts.
“I asked Meta why it banned Tanzanian activist Mange Kimambi from Instagram and WhatsApp and restricted Maria Sarungi-Tsehai’s IG account. I didn’t hear back. The Tanzanian government silenced local media and is now targeting activists based abroad.”
Tanzanian activists have long faced oppression, and have complained of being under intense scrutiny, mainly months before, during, and after the 2025 Tanzania General Elections.
Tanzanian authorities also interfered with internet speeds, blocked social media platforms, and warned citizens against “cyberbullying” the president.
Legal instruments such as the Cybercrimes Act (2015) and the Electronic and Postal Communications (Online Content) Regulations (2020) have given the government sweeping powers to monitor and restrict online speech.
These laws criminalize content deemed to “incite unrest” or “damage the country’s image,” enabling TCRA to issue takedown requests to platforms like Meta.
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Meta has not publicly addressed the allegations of political bias or clarified whether the bans were voluntary or enforced under Tanzanian law.
The company’s global policy allows the removal of content that violates its standards, but activists argue their posts contained no hate speech or incitement—only criticism of government actions.
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