Gabon Suspends Social Media Amid Rising Unrest
Social media platforms blocked over misinformation concerns
- Gabon suspends major social media platforms citing false information and cyberbullying.
- Partial disruptions reported on Facebook and TikTok, affecting businesses and youth.
- Authorities warn harmful content could threaten social cohesion, but affirm freedom of expression remains a right.
Gabon’s media regulator has ordered a suspension of social media platforms “until further notice,” citing the spread of false information, cyberbullying, and unauthorized disclosure of personal data as key reasons for the move.
In a televised statement, the High Authority for Communication (HAC) warned that harmful online content has fueled social divisions and could threaten national unity. While the specific platforms affected were not listed, WhatsApp, Facebook, and TikTok are widely used across the country.
Gabon, led by President General Brice Oligui Nguema—who took power after a 2023 military coup and won last year’s elections—has experienced growing unrest. Strikes by teachers and civil servants over pay and working conditions have intensified, and the social media blackout comes amid mounting public dissatisfaction.
By Wednesday morning, users reported partial disruptions on platforms like Facebook and TikTok. Many businesses that rely on social media for promotion, especially younger entrepreneurs, expressed concern over the economic impact.
HAC spokesperson Jean-Claude Mendome stressed that the measure targets content deemed “defamatory, hateful, or insulting,” which could “undermine human dignity, social cohesion, institutional stability, and national security.” He added that freedom of expression, including criticism, remains a fundamental right in Gabon.
The move echoes tactics from previous governments that occasionally used digital blackouts to control information. Observers say the suspension may complicate social dialogue and economic activity while the government seeks to maintain stability.
