The Digest:
Facebook and TikTok have been blocked in Gabon following a government-ordered suspension of social media platforms "until further notice." The High Authority for Communication announced the ban on Tuesday, citing "inappropriate, defamatory, hateful, and insulting content" that undermines "social cohesion, the stability of the Republic's institutions, and national security." Spokesman Jean-Claude Mendome also referenced "spread of false information," "cyberbullying," and "unauthorised disclosure of personal data" as reasons for the decision. The regulator warned such content risks generating "social conflict" and destabilising institutions. The ban comes as President Brice Oligui Nguema faces his first wave of social unrest, with teachers striking over pay and protests spreading to health, higher education, and broadcasting sectors.
Key Points:
- The shutdown restricts citizens' access to information and platforms for civic engagement.
- It reflects growing government anxiety over social media's role in organising dissent.
- Citizens lose communication channels, while authorities attempt to control narratives.
- This signals the tension between digital freedom and government stability concerns.
- The timing, amid public sector strikes, suggests pre-emptive censorship.
Gabon's social media shutdown aims to curb "conflict-inducing" content amid growing public sector unrest, but raises serious concerns about freedom of expression.
Sources: Vanguard, AFP, High Authority for Communication
