The Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) has instituted Case No. 56 of 2025 before the East African Court of Justice (EACJ), protesting the Government of Tanzania’s decision to shut down internet services nationwide from October 29 to November 4, 2025.
In its filing, LHRC states that the blackout began abruptly at around 11:00 a.m. on October 29, affecting the entire country and disrupting key social and economic functions for six consecutive days.
The organisation argues that millions of Tanzanians were denied access to essential digital services, including online banking, digital health platforms and normal communication channels, resulting in economic losses running into millions of shillings.
LHRC further contends that the shutdown deprived citizens of vital security and public information during the voting period, a time when reliable communication is crucial for a democratic process.
Although the government reportedly justified the move as a measure to avert potential unrest, the Centre maintains that the decision lacked legal backing, was disproportionate and fell short of regional democratic standards.
The human rights watchdog is asking the Court to declare that the shutdown contravened Articles 6(d), 7(2) and 8(1)(c) of the East African Community Treaty, 1999.
It is also seeking orders directing the Tanzanian government to refrain from imposing similar shutdowns in the future without a clear legal framework or a court-issued authorisation.
The Attorney General of Tanzania is expected to file the government’s response within 45 days once the Registrar of the EACJ formally serves the notice of application.