(CNN) Members of Tanzania's LGBT community are fearing for their lives, hiding in their homes and even fleeing the country after threats from a powerful politician to round up gay Tanzanians, activists said.

The announcement from the regional governor of Tanzania's largest city, Dar es Salaam, has also led to a new travel warning by the US State Department warning US citizens to remove any material on social media that could "run afoul" of Tanzania's anti-homosexuality laws.

"I have closed my office today and we will not be operating for a while," said James Wandera Ouma, one of the few activists openly campaigning for LGBT rights in the country.

Another well-known activist, who cannot be named safety reasons, said that gay Tanzanians are in hiding.

"We are worried about both those who are known to the community and those who are closeted," he said.

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