Gabon’s media regulator has imposed an indefinite suspension on major social media platforms, citing the rampant spread of false information, cyberbullying, and content that threatens national stability and social cohesion. The move, announced on the evening of February 18, 2026, comes amid a swelling wave of labor protests that marks the first significant domestic challenge to President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema since he won a landslide election less than a year ago.
In a televised statement read on national media, Jean-Claude Franck Mendome, spokesperson for the High Authority for Communication (HAC), declared: “The High Authority for Communication has decided to immediately suspend social media throughout Gabon until further notice.” He pointed to “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 highlighted the “spread of false information,” cyberbullying, and the “unauthorised disclosure of personal data.”
According to our correspondent in the region, Johnson Zou, by Wednesday, February 18, 2026, connectivity monitors and journalists on the ground confirmed widespread blocks. NetBlocks reported restricted access to Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and WhatsApp, the messaging app that serves as a lifeline for many Gabonese for both personal communication and small business transactions. AFP correspondents verified that Facebook and TikTok were inaccessible, though availability of other platforms appeared patchy depending on the internet service provider. Telecom operators had been instructed to enforce the blackout.
