Keypoints:
- Gabon suspends social media platforms indefinitely
- Authorities cite misinformation and national security risks
- Move comes amid strikes and growing public unrest
GABON’S media regulator has ordered the suspension of social media platforms ‘until further notice’, accusing online networks of spreading false information and fuelling social divisions across the country.
In a televised address on Tuesday evening, the High Authority for Communication (HAC) said the decision followed an increase in misinformation, cyberbullying and the unauthorised disclosure of personal data on digital platforms.
HAC spokesperson Jean-Claude Mendome said authorities acted to protect social cohesion and institutional stability but did not specify which platforms were affected. WhatsApp, Facebook and TikTok are among the most widely used social networks in Gabon.
By Wednesday morning, users reported partial service disruptions. According to AFP, some residents were unable to access Facebook and TikTok, suggesting the suspension had already begun to take effect.
Political pressure mounts amid strikes
The decision comes as President General Brice Oligui Nguema faces mounting domestic pressure following months of labour unrest and public sector strikes.
Nguema, who seized power in a 2023 military coup before winning presidential elections last year with more than 90 percent of the vote, pledged sweeping reforms aimed at restoring democratic governance after decades of rule by the Bongo family.
His administration initially projected an image of openness, allowing foreign and independent media unprecedented access to election processes, including filming ballot counting.
However, rising economic grievances have challenged that reform agenda. Teachers began nationwide strike action in December over pay and working conditions, with protests later spreading to other sectors including healthcare and education.
Officials now argue that social media platforms have amplified tensions during an already fragile political moment.
Mendome said the recurring dissemination of ‘inappropriate, defamatory, hateful and insulting content’ online was undermining human dignity and threatening national security.
Such content, he added, risked generating social conflict and could ‘seriously jeopardise national unity, democratic progress and achievements’.
Businesses fear economic fallout
The suspension has alarmed entrepreneurs and small business owners who depend on social media for marketing and customer engagement.
A restaurant owner in Libreville, speaking anonymously to the BBC, said the restrictions could significantly harm his business.
‘Almost 40 percent of my customers decided to order or come to the restaurant after seeing our advertising on social media,’ he said. ‘Without these platforms, attracting new clients becomes extremely difficult.’
He warned that limiting digital access could hinder economic progress in a country where many young entrepreneurs rely on online visibility to grow their businesses.
‘We are entering a phase where we don’t even know if we are moving forward with global development or sliding backward,’ he added.
Public reaction divided
Reactions among citizens have been mixed. While some residents expressed concern about restrictions on communication and commerce, others supported the government’s decision.
A taxi driver in Libreville told the BBC that authorities likely had valid reasons for the move.
‘There’s no smoke without fire,’ he said. ‘If such a decision was taken, something must have prompted it.’
The HAC insisted that freedom of expression remains protected under Gabonese law. Mendome emphasised that ‘freedom of comment and criticism’ continues to be a fundamental right despite the temporary restrictions.
Digital controls revive past concerns
The suspension has revived memories of previous administrations that imposed internet shutdowns during politically sensitive periods to manage information flows.
Nguema’s government had previously sought to distance itself from those practices as part of a broader democratic transition. Analysts say the latest decision highlights the tension between maintaining public order and safeguarding digital freedoms in an increasingly connected society.
With strikes ongoing and social pressures rising, the duration of the suspension remains unclear, leaving businesses, citizens and observers watching closely for the government’s next move.
