The United States Embassy in Tanzania has announced a temporary closure due to a widespread internet outage affecting multiple East African countries. The closure, set for May 14th and 15th, is a direct result of ongoing network problems caused by a cut submarine cable.

The embassy declared that it would not be operational for regular services on these dates due to the degraded network services. However, the consular section will remain open for visa pickups and emergency cases involving American citizens. All consular appointments scheduled for these days will be canceled and rescheduled.

The internet outage, affecting several East African countries including Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania, has been caused by a cut submarine cable. This disruption has led to significantly slower internet speeds, impacting businesses, homes, and various institutions across the region.

In response to the internet connectivity issues, telecommunications companies like Safaricom have issued warnings to their customers about the disruption. These companies are working diligently to mitigate the impact and restore normal internet services as quickly as possible.

The cut submarine cable has had far-reaching effects beyond just Tanzania. Businesses and homes in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and seven other countries are experiencing slow internet speeds, affecting daily operations and communications.

Despite the temporary closure, the US Embassy in Tanzania remains committed to serving American citizens in emergency situations and ensuring visa pickups are handled promptly. The embassy will resume full operations once the network issues are resolved.