Tanzania Police recover hacked X account after false report on Suluhu
The official X account of the Tanzania Police Force was hacked on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, with the attackers using the platform to publish misleading information, including a false announcement of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s death.
The early morning cyberattack saw the account, followed by over 468,000 users, broadcast unauthorised posts and even host a live video session. One of the most disturbing claims was a fake death report targeting Suluhu, which quickly spread across the platform before authorities intervened.
Swift response
According to the police, the last verified post from the account was made on Saturday, May 17, 2025. All activity on Tuesday morning has since been dismissed as the work of hackers. Authorities urged the public to disregard the messages and confirmed that investigations are underway to establish the source and method of the breach.
“The posts are false and our account was hacked. We are continuing to investigate the incident and urge citizens to ignore the earlier publications,” the Tanzania police, in a statement shared on X on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, said.
The Tanzania Police Force uses the X account to share public alerts, criminal investigations, and security updates. The hacking incident has raised alarm over the security of official digital communication tools, especially amid rising political tensions in the country.
Tensions with opposition
On the same day, President Suluhu addressed the issue of foreign interference during the launch of Tanzania’s new foreign policy. Her remarks appeared to target regional activists following the deportation of several Kenyan human rights defenders who had attempted to attend the ongoing treason trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu.
“We have started to observe a trend in which activists from within our region are attempting to intrude and interfere in our affairs,” Suluhu said in a televised address on Tuesday, May 20,2025. “Let us not give them the chance; they have already destabilized their countries, and the only remaining peaceful nation is Tanzania.”
Her comments came just hours after the deportation of Kenyan activists who had tried to gain entry into Tanzania. Suluhu further instructed security agencies to block what she described as “ill-mannered individuals” from influencing the country’s internal affairs.
By Tuesday afternoon, the police confirmed they had regained control of the X account and that normal operations had resumed. The identity of the hackers remains unknown as digital forensic teams continue to investigate.
