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CNN Journalist Larry Madowo Raises Alarm After Tanzanian Activists Banned From Social Media

CNN’s Larry Madowo raises alarm after Meta banned activist Mange Kimambi and restricted Maria Sarungi-Tsehai’s Instagram account following a request from Tanzanian authorities.

CNN journalist Larry Madowo has raised fresh concern over recent actions targeting two prominent Tanzanian activists.

Abroad-based Tanzanian activists Mange Kimambi has been allegedly banned from Instagram while Maria Sarungi-Tsehai’s account inside Tanzania remains restricted.

Madowo revealed that he asked Meta to clarify why the activists were singled out but received no feedback.

He noted that the Tanzanian government has already silenced local media and now appears to be shifting its focus to critics based abroad.

Kimambi, known for her outspoken activism, shared a screengrab of a received notification stating that her Instagram account, mangekimambi80, had been permanently disabled for allegedly violating community standards.

According to the message, the account cannot be restored, all information will be deleted and she is barred from seeking another review as the ban effectively cuts off one of her most influential digital platforms.

Meanwhile, Maria Sarungi-Tsehai, another vocal advocate for political freedoms, found her Instagram content blocked for users in Tanzania.

A notice from the platform stated that the restriction was imposed in compliance with a legal request from the Tanzania Communication Regulatory Authority.

These developments have fueled the heavy criticism Tanzania already faces over shrinking media freedom, intimidation of journalists and growing control over online spaces.

About the Author

Stephen Awino

Editor

Stephen Awino is a journalist and content creator with experience in radio, print, digital, and social platforms. He has worked for several media outlets including Pulse Kenya, Royal Media Services, and Switch Media Kenya.

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CNN Journalist Larry Madowo Raises Alarm After Tanzanian Activists Banned From Social Media