A pan-African organisation advocating for digital freedom has declared its intention to sue the Tanzanian government for cutting off internet access during the country’s recently concluded general election.
The move, which drew widespread condemnation, is said to have crippled communication, disrupted economic activity, and infringed on citizens’ basic freedoms.
Paradigm Initiative (PIN) said during a virtual press briefing on Wednesday that it is preparing to take the matter to court to ensure that authorities are held accountable for what it termed an unlawful and undemocratic act.
The organisation stated that even though the blackout has ended, it wants a formal judicial declaration that the government’s decision was illegal and punitive measures enforced against officials who authorised it.
According to PIN, access to major social platforms such as Facebook and X was blocked, leaving millions of Tanzanians disconnected for five days. Although the internet was later restored after President Samia Suluhu’s inauguration, watchdogs like NetBlocks reported that restrictions remained on several sites and messaging applications.
The group’s executive director Gbenga Sesan said that internet shutdowns have devastating consequences on both governance and society, warning that such measures only breed misinformation and public mistrust.
“Blocking access to the internet is a backward action that must not be encouraged. It creates an information black market that sustains fake news which is dangerous not only to the democratic health of the country and the region but also to the economic well-being of the citizens,” he said.
He added that such government actions deepen the perception that the continent is resistant to transparency and open elections.
Thobekile Matimbe, who serves as the organisation’s senior partnerships and engagement manager, said the blackout had far-reaching implications on the economy, estimating that the six-day shutdown cost the country more than $200 million (Tsh 560 billion) in losses linked to productivity, trade, and digital transactions.
She criticised the decision as a clear attack on the rights to expression and access to information guaranteed under both regional and international human rights frameworks.
“This was a direct violation of Articles 9 and 19 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,” she said, noting that the government ignored prior calls from the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to avoid such restrictions.
PIN said it would continue pushing for accountability to ensure that citizens are never again deprived of communication during democratic exercises.
The group urged African governments to stop weaponising internet control against their citizens and instead embrace openness and respect for freedom of expression.
The legal threat comes amid growing criticism of the African Union and its agencies for failing to prevent democratic backsliding on the continent. A coalition of 26 rights organisations and 31 activists recently faulted the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights for neglecting its responsibility to protect fundamental freedoms and uphold democratic principles.
