Gabon’s media regulator on Tuesday announced the suspension of social media platforms “until further notice,” citing concerns that online content was fueling conflict and division in the country.
In a televised statement, Jean-Claude Mendome, spokesman for the High Authority for Communication, declared the “immediate suspension of social media platforms in Gabon.”
He said the decision was prompted by the proliferation of “inappropriate, defamatory, hateful, and insulting content” that undermines “human dignity, public morality, the honour of citizens, social cohesion, the stability of the Republic’s institutions, and national security.”
The regulator also pointed to the spread of false information, cyberbullying, and the unauthorised disclosure of personal data as factors behind the move.
“These actions are likely to generate social conflict, destabilise the institutions of the Republic, and seriously jeopardise national unity, democratic progress, and national achievements,” Mendome added.
The authority did not specify which platforms were affected by the suspension.
Despite the sweeping measure, the regulator maintained that freedom of expression including the right to comment and criticise remains a fundamental right guaranteed under Gabonese law.
The announcement comes less than a year after President Brice Oligui Nguema took office and amid rising social tensions. Teachers have been on strike since December over pay and working conditions, while protests have spread to other public sectors, including health, higher education, and broadcasting.
AFP
