Gabon’s media regulator, the High Authority for Communication (HAC), has suspended social media 'until further notice', citing the spread of false information, cyberbullying and unauthorised data disclosures. Partial outages to platforms such as Facebook and TikTok were reported. The move comes amid strikes by teachers and other public-sector workers and rising social tensions under President Brice Oligui Nguema.
Gabon Suspends Social Media, Citing Spread of False Information and Threats to National Unity
The authorities did not specify which social media platforms would be affected by the move [Getty Images]
Gabon’s media regulator, the High Authority for Communication (HAC), has ordered social media platforms suspended 'until further notice', saying material shared online has fuelled conflict and deepened divisions across the country.
Regulator Cites Misinformation, Cyberbullying and Data Leaks
In a televised address, HAC spokesperson Jean-Claude Mendome pointed to the 'spread of false information', incidents of 'cyberbullying' and the 'unauthorised disclosure of personal data' as the reasons for the suspension. He warned that repeated circulation of inappropriate, defamatory, hateful and insulting content undermines human dignity, social cohesion and the stability of state institutions, and could jeopardise national unity and democratic progress.
Partial Disruptions Reported
By mid-morning on Wednesday there were reports of partial disruptions to some platforms. The AFP news agency said some users could not access Facebook and TikTok, although the HAC did not list specific services in its announcement. WhatsApp, Facebook and TikTok are particularly popular in Gabon.
Domestic Context: Protests and Leadership
The move comes as President General Brice Oligui Nguema, who led a 2023 coup and then won last year’s presidential election, faces growing social unrest. Teachers and other civil servants have staged strikes over pay and working conditions since December, and protests have spread to multiple public sectors, including health and education.
[Getty Images/BBC]
'Almost 40% of my customers decided to order or come to the restaurant after seeing our advertising on social media… I won't be able to catch new customers,' said a restaurant owner in Libreville, speaking to the BBC on condition of anonymity. 'We are entering a phase where we don't even know if we are moving forward with global development or if we are sliding backward into total underdevelopment.'
By contrast, a taxi driver told the BBC: 'There's no smoke without fire. For the authorities to take such a decision, something must have certainly prompted it.'
Freedom Of Expression And The Official Line
Mendome sought to balance the announcement by reiterating that 'freedom of expression, including freedom of comment and criticism, remains a fundamental right enshrined in Gabon.' The HAC framed the suspension as a temporary measure to protect national unity and stability in the face of what it described as dangerous online behaviour.
Background
Gabon, an oil- and timber-rich country of roughly 2.5 million people, has a history of digital blackouts used by previous governments to control information. During last year's election — the first since the coup that ended more than five decades of Bongo family rule — foreign and independent media were allowed to film the ballot count, a departure from past practice.
The situation remains fluid. International agencies and local users are monitoring access to platforms, and further statements from the HAC or telecom providers may follow.
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