Bongo Flava sensation Diamond Platnumz has reportedly removed all recent videos from his social media platforms, including Instagram, that showed him supporting and endorsing President Samia Suluhu Hassan and her ruling CCM Party.

The move comes as Tanzania is gripped by anti-Suluhu protests and a heavy-handed government response following a highly contentious general election.

The deleted content primarily featured the popular artist’s performances during President Suluhu’s recent campaigns and CCM Party tours.

Diamond had been a high-profile endorser of the government, the removed videos highlighted his performances at campaign rallies and his decision to publicly back the administration had attracted significant mass criticism online.

This sharp reversal in his public social media stance is seen as a reaction to the rising political tension and public anger across the country.

The current unrest has been majorly provoked by what critics describe as the President’s sustained crackdown on opposition figures. This crackdown included arrests, disappearances, and legal barriers that severely narrowed the political space ahead of the vote, leading critics to dismiss the election as a sham.

The government has responded to the chaos with severe restrictions like an indefinite dusk-to-dawn curfew has been imposed in Dar es Salaam, the country’s commercial hub, Internet access has been cut off for millions of Tanzanians, severely limiting communication and the flow of information about the protests, and there are reports of violent clashes and security forces deploying tear gas and live fire against demonstrators.

The public anger and subsequent heavy security presence have created a volatile atmosphere, which has clearly prompted the Bongo star to distance himself from the ruling party on his influential platforms.