In brief
Gabon has announced the removal of a nationwide social‑media ban that was imposed in February to curb alleged online incitement. The High Communication Authority cited growing social divisions and conflict as reasons for the restriction. The suspension had forced users to rely on VPNs and had drawn sharp criticism from opposition groups who called it a power grab. President Brice Oligui Nguema, who won the 2025 vote amid controversy, oversaw the crackdown. The lift signals a shift toward greater digital openness amid ongoing political tensions.
Gabon has announced the removal of a nationwide social‑media ban that was imposed on 17 February to curb alleged online incitement. The High Communication Authority (HAC) said the restriction was needed to prevent digital content from fueling conflict and deepening divisions in the country.
The six‑month crackdown had shut down major platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, YouTube and Instagram, which are especially popular among Gabon’s 2.5 million residents. Users who relied on the sites for business and leisure turned to virtual private networks (VPNs) to bypass the block. The government’s decision to lift the ban has been greeted with relief by many, but it has also reignited calls from opposition groups that the curbs were an abuse of power.
President Brice Oligui Nguema, who won last year’s election with more than 90% of the vote, oversaw the suspension during a period of social unrest. Teachers and civil servants had staged strikes over low pay and poor working conditions, while the opposition claimed the ban was a tool to stifle dissent. The ban further follows a tradition of digital blackouts used by previous governments to control information in the country’s oil‑rich past.
While the government sees the lift as a step toward restoring normalcy, critics warn that the underlying political tensions remain unresolved. The restoration of social‑media access may provide a platform for broader civic engagement, but it also raises questions about the future of digital regulation in Gabon’s fragile democracy.
