Gabon's Regulator Restricts Social Media Sites Over Security Concerns

The High Authority for Communication (HAC), Gabon’s media regulator, ordered the immediate suspension of certain social media services “until further notice,” citing concerns that online content could undermine social cohesion, institutional stability, and national security. The regulator did not specify which platforms were affected.

Platforms Restricted, Not Fully Blocked

Global internet monitor NetBlocks said on Wednesday that access to Meta services, TikTok, and YouTube had been restricted, while Reuters reported that Facebook, Instagram, and X remained accessible as of Wednesday afternoon, suggesting selective or uneven enforcement rather than a blanket shutdown.

The HAC accused “digital platforms and activists” of spreading “inappropriate, defamatory, hateful and abusive” content online. Reuters said it could not determine whether a specific post or sequence of posts triggered the action. A government spokesperson was not immediately reachable.

Security Justification Versus Digital Reliance

The suspension sparked criticism from civil society voices who warned of broader economic consequences. Nicaise Moulombi, a civil society member, said the move “amounts to paralysing a significant part of the country's economic and social activity in a context already marked by unemployment and the cost of living.”

Social networks are no longer mere tools for entertainment, they have become instruments of work, citizen expression, commerce, innovation, and even democratic mobilization.

Civil Society Member Nicaise Moulombi

The remarks underscore how digital platforms increasingly function as infrastructure for small businesses, informal trade, and professional services.

Political Context After Coup

The restrictions come less than a year after President Brice Oligui Nguema consolidated power through elections held in April 2025, following the August 2023 coup that ended more than 50 years of rule by Ali Bongo and his family. The political transition has been accompanied by promises of reform but also heightened sensitivity around dissent and public discourse.

Gabon’s population of approximately 2.5 million remains heavily dependent on imported food and vulnerable to fluctuations in global commodity prices. Despite being an oil-producing nation, the country faces rising debt and what officials describe as an acute liquidity squeeze.

Economic Fragility and Fiscal Pressure

The World Bank has warned that Gabon’s fiscal position remains fragile despite reform momentum. Analysts note that disruptions to digital services can amplify pressure in economies where online platforms facilitate retail transactions, remittances, and gig-based employment.

Selective social media suspensions have become more common globally during periods of political stress, elections, or civil unrest. Critics argue such measures risk undermining investor confidence and digital sector growth, while governments frame them as necessary tools to counter misinformation and protect public order.