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Mange Kimambi’s Social Media Accounts Disabled Amid Election Violence Documentation

Meta platforms restricted as diaspora activists document deadly post-election crackdown

US-based Tanzanian activist Mange Kimambi and fellow activist Maria Sarungi-Tsehai have had their social media accounts restricted following their documentation of Tanzania’s October 29 election violence, raising concerns about digital censorship and transnational repression.

Account Restrictions and Documentation

Kimambi shared screenshots showing Meta had disabled her personal Instagram account (@mangekimambi80), her news page (@wananchiforum), and her WhatsApp number (+1-424-537-3057). She directly linked the restrictions to her posts documenting the post-election unrest and evidence received from citizens on the ground.

Separately, Maria Sarungi-Tsehai’s Instagram account was restricted in Tanzania at the communications regulator’s request, according to reports from activists monitoring the situation.

CNN international correspondent Larry Madowo tweeted about the account restrictions, stating he asked Meta why it banned Kimambi from Instagram and WhatsApp and restricted Sarungi-Tsehai’s Instagram account but did not receive a response from the company.

Election Violence and Death Toll Disputes

The restrictions came as activists documented what they describe as mass killings following Tanzania’s general election. The UN human rights office obtained information from different sources suggesting hundreds of protesters and other people were killed, with an unknown number injured or detained, though the office has been unable to independently verify casualty figures owing to the volatile security situation and internet shutdown.

The UN’s OHCHR initially reported that credible reports indicated at least 10 people were killed in Dar es Salaam, Shinyanga and Morogoro as security forces used firearms and teargas to disperse protesters.

The opposition Chadema party claimed significantly higher numbers, with party sources stating the death toll had risen to 2,000, while accusing police of disposing of hundreds of unknown bodies at an undisclosed location. The Tanzanian government has disputed these figures.

A CNN investigation found that police and gun-wielding men on patrol shot at groups of protesters, many of whom appeared unarmed or were holding only rocks and sticks, with geolocated videos, audio forensic analysis and first-hand accounts documenting the brutality.

Activist Appeals to Trump Administration

In a letter addressed to President Donald Trump, Kimambi detailed her situation and requested intervention. She explained that her Meta accounts were deactivated after she raised awareness about kidnappings of citizens and opposition leaders, killings, imprisonment on fabricated treason charges, barring of opposition parties from participating in the election, and widespread corruption.

Kimambi emphasized that she consistently encouraged peaceful protests, noting that digital communication is one of the only remaining tools for civic engagement as multiple hospitals and health clinics were too afraid to talk directly to journalists.

She requested that President Trump publicly urge Meta to reinstate her accounts and encourage Congress to consider legislation granting activists meaningful legal recourse when accounts are removed without transparency or due process.

Legal Threats and Extradition Demands

The account restrictions coincide with escalating legal pressure from Tanzanian authorities. Kimambi has been charged with economic sabotage and faces one count of money laundering involving Sh138.5 million, with the case scheduled for mention on December 4 before Senior Resident Magistrate Hassan Makube at Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court.

Tanzania’s Attorney General Hamza Said Johari publicly called for Kimambi’s arrest and extradition from the United States, accusing her of using social media to incite unrest. He instructed Tanzanian security and diplomatic agencies to liaise with US counterparts to facilitate her arrest.

Kimambi responded defiantly on Instagram, questioning what US law she had broken and stating the US government would reject the request. Legal experts note that the US-Tanzania extradition treaty primarily covers criminal offenses, not political speech protected under the First Amendment.

Media Silencing and Internet Restrictions

The Tanzanian government implemented multiple measures to control information flow following the election. A nationwide curfew was put in place, and access to the internet appeared to have been widely restricted since the October 29 general election, without any official reasons being given.

From October 29 until November 3, the government imposed a 24-hour lockdown, ordering all residents to stay at home, which prevented the media from being able to report on the elections and ensuing protests.

Tanzania blocked X (formerly Twitter) in August 2024, leaving Instagram as one of the few remaining platforms for political discourse. With both X blocked domestically and activist accounts on Meta platforms now restricted, Tanzanians’ ability to access independent information has been severely curtailed.

International Scrutiny and Calls for Investigation

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk urged investigations into the killings and other violations, calling once again for the unconditional release of all opposition figures arrested before the general election, including opposition Chadema party leader Tundu Lissu.

American senators demanded an independent investigation following CNN’s documentary. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee stated the report underscores disturbing actions by the Tanzanian government to suppress protesters, with evidence of mass graves showing an unacceptable attempt to cover up gross violations of human rights.

The African Union electoral observer mission stated the poll did not meet democratic principles or standards, despite initially congratulating President Hassan on her victory.

Ongoing Activism Despite Threats

Kimambi, who has lived in the United States since 2012, vowed to continue advocating for peaceful protests ahead of planned demonstrations on December 9. She stated from her Los Angeles base that she would not be silenced despite the legal threats and account restrictions.

Maria Sarungi-Tsehai, founder of the pro-democracy movement Change Tanzania, praised CNN correspondent Larry Madowo for his investigative work, stating he deserves all awards and accolades for documenting the election violence. Sarungi-Tsehai herself was briefly abducted in Kenya in January 2025, with the Committee to Protect Journalists noting she believed there was Tanzanian involvement.

Digital Rights Concerns

Human rights organizations have condemned the account restrictions as part of a broader pattern of transnational repression. The inability of activists to use social media platforms to document human rights abuses raises concerns about corporate compliance with government censorship requests.

With traditional media silenced inside Tanzania and diaspora activists facing account restrictions, concerns mount about the ability of citizens to document and expose ongoing abuses. The UN noted harrowing reports of families desperately searching everywhere for their loved ones, visiting one police station after another and one hospital after another.

As the December 9 protest date approaches, the standoff between Tanzanian authorities and diaspora activists continues, highlighting tensions between digital platform governance, free expression, and state efforts to control narratives about alleged human rights violations.