Gabon Cuts Off Social Media Amid Security Fears

The Gabonese government has halted access to several online platforms, citing the risk that certain posts could harm the nation’s unity and safety. The decision was announced by the country’s communication regulator, which did not list specific sites that were affected. In practice, users in Gabon found Meta services, YouTube and TikTok blocked, while Facebook, Instagram and X stayed online.

The regulator accused digital users of spreading content that was “inappropriate, defamatory, hateful and abusive.” It did not explain whether a single controversial message or a series of them prompted the action. A government spokesperson was unavailable to comment.

Critics argue that shutting down social networks cripples many people’s livelihoods. Nicaise Moulombi, a civil society figure, said that today’s networks are more than fun; they help people work, express themselves, sell goods and even organize for democracy. He warned that the ban could worsen unemployment and the high cost of living.

The move comes after President Brice Oligui Nguema seized power in an August 2023 coup, ending decades of rule by former president Ali Bongo. Gabon’s economy is already fragile, with debt mounting and a tight cash flow that forces the country to borrow from regional markets. The population of roughly 2.5 million lives in a forested nation that depends heavily on food imports.

The World Bank has cautioned that Gabon’s financial situation remains vulnerable even as the country tries to move forward politically. The social media ban therefore adds a new layer of uncertainty for Gabon’s future.