In the early hours of Tuesday, May 20, a verified X (formerly Twitter) account belonging to the Tanzania Police Force was compromised, leading to the circulation of alarming false information—including a fabricated announcement of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s death.
The hacked account, which has more than 468,000 followers, was used by the attackers to post misleading content, including a live video broadcast. During the livestream, a fake statement in Swahili claimed the president had died, urging citizens to stay calm during the so-called “difficult period.”
“With deep sorrow, we confirm the death of the president of the United Republic of Tanzania. We ask all citizens to remain calm and uphold unity during this difficult time. May God rest her soul in eternal peace,” read the misleading post displayed during the stream.
The breach targeted a key communication channel of the Tanzania Police Force, typically used to relay official updates, public safety notices, and criminal investigations. The incident sparked widespread concern, particularly amid ongoing political tensions in the country.
President Suluhu is currently involved in a political standoff with opposition figure Tundu Lissu, who faces treason charges. The case has drawn domestic and international scrutiny, especially after the recent arrest of six Kenyan observers linked to the matter.
Tanzania Police Respond to Cyberattack
In response to the cyberattack, the Tanzania Police Force released an official statement confirming the breach and urging the public to ignore the false information being shared.
“The Police Force would like to inform the public that false, misleading, and unethical information was being circulated through the Force’s X account (@tanpol), aimed at deceiving the public into believing it originated from the police. These claims are entirely untrue, and the police would never publish such content on its social media platforms,” the statement read.
Authorities have launched an investigation to identify and apprehend those behind the cyberattack. The police also warned that strict legal action would be taken against individuals involved in producing or distributing the false content.
Reassuring the public, the police emphasized their commitment to maintaining order and confirmed that all credible updates would continue to be shared through verified channels only.
