Tanzanian Activist Mange Kimambi Blocked from Instagram After Mobilising Election Protests

Prominent Tanzanian activist Mange Kimambi says her removal from Instagram was politically motivated, accusing the government of pressuring Meta to silence her as she mobilised opposition to President Samia Suluhu Hassan. Kimambi, a former fashion model now based in the United States, had nearly three million followers and used her platforms to rally Tanzanians to protest the disputed 29 October election. She is an outspoken critic of President Samia and has been blamed by authorities for inciting unrest.

Instagram informed her that her accounts were removed for violating Meta’s “recidivism policy,” which prevents users from creating new accounts after repeated breaches of community standards. Tanzania’s government spokesperson, Gerson Msigwa, rejected her claims and said she must provide proof that officials influenced Meta’s decision. Meta said its enforcement was standard procedure and denied allowing accounts previously removed for violations to be reinstated.

Tanzania’s Attorney General Hamza Johari appeared to reference Kimambi last month, expressing disbelief that “one person outside the country” could direct people via social media to protest. He accused her of boasting about her influence and declared that the government “must arrest her.”

The unrest followed an election in which President Samia claimed nearly 98 percent of the vote after major opposition candidates were unable to participate. Tundu Lissu was detained on treason charges, while Luhaga Mpina was barred on technical grounds. Opposition groups and human rights organisations say hundreds of people were killed as security forces cracked down on protests, though the government has not released casualty figures.

President Samia defended the use of force as necessary to stop protesters who she said “were ready to overthrow the government.” She has warned that authorities are prepared to confront fresh demonstrations planned for next week.

Kimambi noted that another well known activist, Maria Sarungi, also had her social media account restricted on the same day, which she said strengthened her belief that Meta was pressured by Tanzanian authorities. Posting on her X account, which remains active, she called on U.S. President Donald Trump to urge Meta to reinstate her pages. She wrote that she had consistently encouraged peaceful protests, saying many Tanzanians feel unsafe expressing dissent through traditional political channels.

The removals come as the United States is reviewing its relationship with Tanzania due to what Washington calls democratic backsliding and violations of free speech. A statement from the U.S. State Department accused the Tanzanian government of repressing religious freedom, restricting open discourse, blocking American investments and failing to prevent violence surrounding the election. It warned that future bilateral cooperation depends on Tanzania’s actions.

Kimambi, widely known as dada wa taifa (sister of the nation), has built her influence online since 2016, when she began criticising the late President John Magufuli. She attempted to organise nationwide protests in 2018. After briefly supporting Samia in 2021 when she assumed office, Kimambi later broke with the administration and resumed her criticism. Her detractors accuse her of using harsh language and question the legitimacy of her activism, but her supporters say she remains one of the few voices willing to challenge the government publicly.