Joseph Isangura
A Tanzanian media advocacy organisation has reignited public debate after alleging that a wave of unrest and deaths reported on October 29, 2025, was partly fuelled by online incitement from activists living outside the country.
Speaking to journalists in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, the chairperson of the Media Centre for Journalists Defending Resources and Information (MECIRA), Mchange Habibu Mchange, said the organisation believes some individuals based abroad used digital platforms to encourage violence, while the impact was felt by ordinary citizens at home in Tanzania.
Mchange argued that accountability for the events surrounding October 29 should not be limited to those accused of carrying out violent acts on the ground. Instead, he said, equal attention should be given to individuals who allegedly used social media to mobilise unrest from outside the country. According to him, ignoring this aspect creates an incomplete picture of what transpired and who should bear responsibility.
During the briefing, MECIRA confirmed it had delivered formal letters to the embassies of the United States and Kenya in Tanzania. The letters, Mchange explained, raise concerns about Tanzanian nationals residing in those countries who are accused of using online platforms to stir tensions back home. He said the organisation was urging foreign governments to respect Tanzania’s sovereignty and avoid what it views as indirect interference in domestic affairs.
“It is deeply unfair for those alleged to be encouraging violence to remain safely abroad while citizens inside the country suffer injuries, loss of life and destruction of property,” Mchange said. He added that such situations leave victims without closure and undermine efforts to maintain social cohesion.
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MECIRA has also called for closer cooperation between Tanzanian authorities and foreign governments in cases where activists face legal questions at home. Mchange insisted that living abroad should not shield anyone from accountability if their actions are believed to have contributed to harm within the country.
Referring to a video circulating on social media, Mchange claimed it showed an activist acknowledging that restrictions placed on certain online accounts had disrupted plans for demonstrations scheduled for December 9, 2025. He further alleged that the footage suggested attempts to seek support from foreign audiences to continue what MECIRA describes as efforts to destabilise the country. These claims, however, have not been independently verified and remain contested.
Mchange stressed that diplomatic missions operating in Tanzania should rely on balanced and factual information when assessing the country’s situation. He said misrepresentation of events risks straining relations and misinforming foreign audiences about Tanzania’s internal dynamics.
The remarks have sparked renewed discussion about the political role of the Tanzanian diaspora and the growing influence of online activism across borders.
