Tanzania’s government has cautioned citizens against sharing images or videos that could “cause panic” as internet services gradually return following a six-day shutdown during deadly post-election protests.

Mobile users received text messages Monday night warning that circulating such materials could lead to treason charges. The warnings came shortly after connectivity was restored, when people began posting unverified images allegedly showing victims of the unrest. A social media page sharing these visuals was removed after quickly gaining thousands of followers.

Authorities have not released an official death toll, though President Samia Suluhu Hassan acknowledged fatalities during her Monday swearing-in ceremony and ordered security agencies to restore calm. Human Rights Watch condemned the violent crackdown, citing opposition party Chadema’s claim that more than 1,000 people were killed. The Catholic Church also reported deaths “in the hundreds,” though both accounts remain unverified.

The violence erupted during the disputed Oct. 29 election, in which Hassan was declared the winner with over 97% of the vote after opposition candidates were disqualified. Youths took to the streets in protest, prompting security forces to respond with live ammunition and tear gas. A nationwide curfew soon followed.

By Tuesday, normalcy was slowly returning in Dar es Salaam and Dodoma as fuel stations, markets, and public transport resumed operations. Government workers were ordered back to offices, ending a temporary work-from-home directive.

Human Rights Watch urged Tanzania to investigate the killings and fully restore internet access, saying the crackdown and censorship further erode confidence in the country’s electoral process and violate citizens’ rights to free expression and information.