Three of Tanzania’s leading newspapers have been banned from publishing their online editions after they ran an animation deemed critical of President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
The Citizen, Mwananchi and Mwanaspoti newspapers have had their online licenses suspended for 30 days over the viral animated clip, which has since been removed.
The clip, just over a minute long, published by the Citizen on social media highlighted the increasing cases of abductions and disappearances in the country.
The media regulator said the content “threatens and is likely to affect and harm national unity and social peace of the United Republic of Tanzania”.
Rights groups have accused President Samia’s government of stifling dissent and targeting opponents ahead of next year’s general elections.
It follows a recent wave of abductions, arrests and the brutal killing of an opposition official in the country.
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