A prominent Tanzanian activist has accused the government of influencing the removal of her social media accounts, which she had been using to mobilise opposition to the authorities. Mange Kimambi, a former fashion model-turned-activist based in the US, is a well-known critic of President Samia Suluhu Hassan and previously had nearly three million followers on Instagram. She has been blamed for inciting recent deadly election protests, prompting calls for her arrest.
A Meta spokesperson told media that her Instagram accounts were removed for violating its recidivism policy. Tanzania’s government spokesperson Gerson Msigwa said she should provide proof of her allegations. Meta, the parent company of Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp, said it does not allow people to create new accounts similar to ones previously removed for breaching Community Standards.
Tanzania’s Attorney-General Hamza Johari suggested last month, in remarks widely interpreted as referring to Kimambi, that it was “impossible” for one person abroad to direct unrest through social media, adding that she “must be arrested”. The disputed 29 October elections, which President Samia won with about 98 percent after leading opposition figures were barred or detained, were followed by widespread protests. Opposition groups and rights organisations say hundreds were killed during security crackdowns, though the government has released no casualty figures. Samia defended the use of force as necessary to prevent an attempted overthrow of the government.
She said on Monday that the authorities were prepared to confront protesters expected to take part in fresh demonstrations next week. Kimambi noted that another Tanzanian activist, Maria Sarungi, also had accounts restricted on the same day hers were removed. She wrote on her X page that this showed Meta may have been pressured by the Tanzanian government. She also appealed to US President Donald Trump to urge Meta to restore her pages, saying she had consistently encouraged peaceful protests.
The removals come as the US reviews its relationship with Tanzania, citing concerns over democratic backsliding, restrictions on free speech, and violence linked to the October elections. A statement from Washington said the government’s actions threaten US citizens, tourists and interests, and will influence future bilateral ties. Tanzanian authorities have not responded.
Kimambi, popularly known as dada wa taifa (sister of the nation), rose to prominence through her social media activism, beginning during the presidency of the late John Magufuli. She later supported Samia when she assumed office, even attending her first official US visit, but the relationship broke down and Kimambi now uses her platforms to sharply criticise the administration.
Critics accuse her of using inflammatory language when targeting senior officials. She also faces economic sabotage charges in Dar es Salaam, including one count of money laundering involving more than $56,000 allegedly obtained without journalistic accreditation and through intimidation. The case, first filed in August, was postponed on Thursday to 28 January as investigations continue.
In a final Instagram post before her account disappeared, she dismissed the charges as fabricated, saying they would not change her stance on the president. She said the allegations were linked to a Tanzanian bank account holding $40,000, which she claimed was frozen last year. The government has denied suggestions that the charges are politically motivated, saying the matter remains before the courts. In recent posts, Kimambi had urged Tanzanians to resist the administration and join upcoming protests, including planned demonstrations on 9 December.