In a significant crackdown on media freedom, the Tanzanian government has suspended the online licenses of three prominent newspapers—“The Citizen”, “Mwananchi”, and “Mwanaspoti”—for 30 days following the publication of a critical animated clip regarding President Samia Suluhu Hassan. The decision has drawn widespread condemnation from rights groups, who view it as part of a broader pattern of suppressing dissent ahead of the upcoming general elections.
The banned animation, which was shared on social media by “The Citizen”, addressed the rising concerns over abductions and disappearances in Tanzania. The clip featured a cartoon character resembling President Samia, depicted in her signature hijab, who switches between various television stations. Each station aired complaints about violent incidents involving family members, culminating in the character’s visible distress over the situation. Although the animation garnered significant attention online, it was swiftly removed, with “The Citizen” citing “misinterpretation” by the public as the reason for its withdrawal.
