Access to major social media platforms has been disrupted in Gabon after the country’s media regulator ordered a suspension “until further notice,” as strikes and public dissatisfaction intensify.
Gatekeepers News reports that by Wednesday morning, users across parts of the country reported difficulty accessing Facebook and TikTok. According to AFP, some accounts were unable to log in. WhatsApp, which is widely used in Gabon, was also reportedly affected, although officials did not publish a detailed list of the services impacted.
The decision was announced late Tuesday by the High Authority for Communication (HAC). In a televised address, the regulator’s spokesperson, Jean-Claude Mendome, said the action was taken in response to what he described as the spread of false information, cyberbullying and the unauthorised disclosure of personal data.
He stated that certain online activities were “fuelling conflict” and deepening divisions within the country.
The suspension comes at a politically sensitive time. Gabon is led by President Brice Oligui Nguema, who assumed power after leading a military coup in 2023 and later won presidential elections last year. His administration is currently grappling with growing unrest, as teachers and other civil servants stage strikes over pay and working conditions.
Authorities have not indicated how long the suspension will last. The regulator’s statement offered no timeline or specific conditions for restoring access.
The move echoes similar actions taken elsewhere on the continent. In Nigeria, the federal government suspended Twitter on June 4, 2021, after the platform removed a post by former President Muhammadu Buhari that threatened to punish regional secessionists. Telecommunications providers subsequently blocked access nationwide.
The suspension in Nigeria lasted from June 5, 2021, until January 2022, when access was eventually restored.
