The government of Gabon has ordered the immediate suspension of social media platforms, citing concerns that online content is fueling division and threatening national stability.
In a televised statement on Tuesday, Jean-Claude Mendome, spokesperson for the High Authority for Communication, said the decision was taken following the circulation of “inappropriate, defamatory, hateful, and insulting content” across digital platforms.
According to Mendome, such content undermines human dignity, public morality, social cohesion, and the stability of state institutions, while posing risks to national security.
He also highlighted the spread of false information, cyberbullying, and the unauthorized disclosure of personal data as key factors behind the move.
“These actions are likely, in the case of Gabon, to generate social conflict, destabilise the institutions of the Republic, and seriously jeopardise national unity, democratic progress, and achievements,” he said.
The regulator did not specify which social media platforms would be affected or how long the suspension would remain in force.
However, it emphasized that freedom of expression, including the right to comment and criticize, remains a fundamental constitutional right.
The decision comes less than a year after President Brice Oligui Nguema assumed office, a transition that triggered waves of social unrest.
Since December, teachers have staged strikes over wages and working conditions, with protests spreading to other public sectors, including broadcasting, higher education, and healthcare.
Authorities say the suspension is aimed at preventing further instability while safeguarding national unity.
