Dar es Salaam – A coalition of human rights defenders, led by the Tanganyika Law Society (TLS), has filed the third significant lawsuit against the Tanzanian government in the wake of the country’s recent contentious general election.
This latest petition challenges the legality of a nationwide internet blackout that was imposed from October 29 to November 4, 2025, with the petitioners arguing that it was an unconstitutional act that violated citizens’ fundamental rights.
This case follows two other major legal challenges related to the post-election turmoil. The first was a petition brought by three citizens seeking to halt the work of a presidential Commission of Inquiry, which they claim is biased and illegally formed.
The second was a lawsuit filed by the TLS against the government over a five-day curfew imposed in Dar es Salaam, which the petition argues was unlawful.
The lawsuit regarding the internet shutdown names the Minister for Communications and Information Technology, the Tanzania Communication Regulatory Authority (TCRA), several major telecommunication companies, and the Attorney General as respondents.
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The petitioners are seeking a declaration that the shutdown was illegal, a permanent injunction against future occurrences, and a public apology.
The blackout was implemented as nationwide protests, described as the largest in the country’s history, erupted in response to the disputed election results. The lawsuit alleges the shutdown was a deliberate measure to suppress information and conceal human rights violations during this period of unrest.
According to the court filing, the internet blackout caused “substantial and grievous harm to the economic, social, political, and civil rights of citizens.”
Petitioners allege that it paralysed online businesses, disrupted access to essential services, and severed communication lines at a critical time. The petitioners maintain that the action was disproportionate and lacked any legal or judicial justification.
This is not the first time the government has faced legal action over such measures. A similar internet shutdown during the 2020 general election also prompted a court case, which is still pending, highlighting a pattern of restricting digital rights during politically sensitive periods.
READ MORE: Tanganyika Law Society Sues Tanzanian Government Over Post-Election Curfew
Taken together, the three legal challenges represent a concerted effort by civil society to seek accountability for the events surrounding the October 29 election. They question the legality of the government’s security measures, the independence of its investigative bodies, and its control over the flow of information.
The outcome of these cases is seen by observers as a crucial test for the rule of law and the protection of democratic freedoms in Tanzania, and could set a significant precedent for the continent.
