Internet access was partially restored in Tanzania on Monday night after a near-total, week-long blackout, but the return of connectivity came with a severe government warning against sharing certain content online.
The internet shutdown, which began on the eve of the country’s election, lasted nearly six days. As service returned, mobile phone subscribers across the nation received a text message from authorities cautioning that sharing images or messages “that could cause panic or demean human life would lead to treason charges.”
The warning appears to be an effort to control the narrative surrounding reports of violence during recent election protests. Authorities have yet to release an official death toll from the demonstrations that have rocked the country.
The government’s message was underscored by the removal of a popular social media page that had been uploading videos and photos of purported election protest victims. The page, which had attracted thousands of followers within a single day, was pulled down on Monday evening.
During her swearing-in ceremony on Monday, President Samia Suluhu Hassan acknowledged the turmoil, stating there had been a “loss of life.” She urged security forces to ensure a return to normalcy.
As the internet slowly came back online, signs of daily life resuming were visible in the capital cities of Dar es Salaam and Dodoma. Gas stations and grocery shops, which had been closed for days, began reopening.
