In brief
Gabon’s high communication authority has announced the re‑opening of social media platforms after an eight‑month shutdown imposed in February. The ban had been justified by the government as a response to content fueling conflict and deepening divisions. It forced citizens to rely on VPNs to reach Facebook, TikTok, YouTube and Instagram. The decision comes amid political tensions that followed President Brice Oligui Nguema’s 2025 election victory and a wave of civil‑service and teacher strikes.
Gabon has announced the end of a ban that shut down social media for eight months, a decision that triggered widespread criticism when it was imposed in February.
The High Communication Authority said online content had fueled conflict and deepened divisions, prompting the shutdown.
The move surprised the country’s 2.5 million population, where Facebook, TikTok, YouTube and Instagram are highly popular with young people who use them for business and entertainment.
After the ban, many users turned to VPNs to access blocked sites.
The restriction followed a period of social unrest against President Brice Oligui Nguema, just months after his 2025 election that gave him over 90% of the vote and ended the Bongo family's 50‑year rule.
Teachers and civil servants had joined strikes over low pay and poor conditions, while opposition groups called the shutdown an abuse of power.
Under Nguema, the government aimed to reform the oil‑and‑timber‑rich nation, but digital blackouts had previously been used to manage information flow.
