Tanzania Suspends Three News Sites Over Critique of President

The online editions of three Tanzanian newspapers, The Citizen, Mwananchi, and Mwanaspoti, have been banned for running an animation critical of President Samia Suluhu Hassan and referencing a spate of recent abductions and killings of dissidents. Their online licenses were suspended for 30 days due to the viral video, which has now been taken down.

One of the videos is a female cartoon character who resembled President Samia with her signature hijab, was watching news reports about dissidents and victims of state repression, indirectly accusing her government of involvement. Hassan has faced mounting domestic and international criticism over allegations that the security forces are behind the kidnapping and murder of opposition figures.

The government has banned two rallies by the main opposition party Chadema and arrested its leaders and supporters in the past two months.

InFocus

Tanzanian president Samia Suluhu Hassan (file photo).

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