Social media platforms have been suspended across Gabon “until further notice,” following a directive from the country’s media regulator, which says online content is fueling division and threatening national stability.
In a televised address, Jean-Claude Mendome, spokesperson for the High Authority for Communication, announced the “immediate suspension of social media platforms in Gabon.”
He cited the proliferation of “inappropriate, defamatory, hateful, and insulting content” that he said undermines human dignity, public morality, and the honor of citizens, while also endangering social cohesion and national security.
The regulator further pointed to the spread of false information, cyberbullying, and the unauthorized disclosure of personal data as key factors behind the sweeping measure.
According to the authority, such actions risk inciting social conflict, destabilizing state institutions, and jeopardizing national unity and democratic progress.
Although no specific platforms were named, the suspension appears broad in scope. The regulator emphasized, however, that freedom of expression — including the right to comment and criticize — remains a fundamental right protected under Gabonese law.
The move comes less than a year after President Brice Oligui Nguema took office and amid mounting social tensions.
Teachers launched a nationwide strike in December over pay and working conditions, with similar protests spreading to other public sectors, including healthcare, higher education, and state broadcasting.
As the government grapples with rising unrest, the social media ban marks a significant and controversial step in its response to growing public dissatisfaction.
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