Gabon shuts down social media nationwide over protest and social unrest

Gabonese authorities on Tuesday shut down social media nationwide until further notice, citing the spread of misinformation, hateful speech and content threatening national security.

In a statement on Tuesday, the High Authority for Communication (HAC), through its spokesperson, Jean-Claude Mendome, cited the spread of false information, cyberbullying, and the unauthorised disclosure of personal data as the top reasons for the decision. It noted that online content has influenced unrest and division in the country. 

Amid the social media ban, telecom operators have been instructed to block Gabonese access to popular platforms, including WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, which have shut down activities in the Central African country.

The regulator explained that the suspension was necessary to halt the circulation of content that violates the country’s 2016 Communications Code. It added that existing content moderation controls implemented by social media platforms were inadequate.

At a time when social media access becomes pivotal to communications and economic activities, over 850,000 active social media users in Gabon are set to be affected. Data from DataReportal shows that the figure represents about 32.6% of the 2.5 million population. 

In addition, the suspension is set to disrupt the flow of information, slow online transactions and affect other related services that depend on the digital medium.

Also Read: Gabon’s military restores internet access following successful coup.

Why Gabon is shutting down social media

Gabon has been facing social unrest since General Brice Oligui Nguema won presidential elections last year after leading a military coup in 2023. Civil servants, including teachers, have been on strike over pay and working conditions.

School teachers in Gabon began striking in December 2025 over poor pay and working conditions. Similar grievances have started spreading to other public sectors, including health and education at large.

During last year’s poll, Nguema won with more than 90% of the vote. It comes two years after his coup ended over five decades of rule by the Bongo family. Nguema pledged to reform Gabon, where internet blackouts were used by the previous government to suppress citizens and control the spread of information.

For the first time, the 2025 polls allowed foreign and independent media to film the ballot count during the election.

Meanwhile, the latest social media ban raises renewed concerns over the use of forced digital blackout to control content moderation.

In the statement, Gabonese authorities said the move was promoted by the recurring use of social media platforms to spread conflicts and cyberbullying. Mendome tagged it as “inappropriate, defamatory, hateful, and insulting content that undermines human dignity, social cohesion, the stability of the republic’s institutions, and national security“.

He added that such actions were likely to “generate social conflict and seriously jeopardise national unity, democratic progress, and achievements“. However, Mendome said freedom of expression and the choice to comment and criticise remain a fundamental human right in Gabon.

The Central African country last suffered an internet blackout in August 2023 after the government blocked internet access and imposed a curfew in the 2023 elections, marred by voting delays.

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