Gabon has imposed an indefinite ban on social media platforms, blaming them for inciting division and spreading misinformation.
The High Authority for Communication (HAC) issued the directive on February 18, 2026, via a televised statement, targeting content deemed harmful to social cohesion.
HAC spokesperson Jean-Claude Mendome explained the rationale, saying the measure addressed the “repeated circulation of ‘inappropriate, defamatory, hateful, and insulting content’ on digital platforms.”
While specific apps were not named, popular services like WhatsApp, Facebook and TikTok are anticipated to face restrictions, though access remained intact as of Wednesday morning, with full enforcement pending.
The clampdown unfolds against a backdrop of teacher strikes in December over unpaid wages and poor conditions, which have spilled into healthcare and civil service sectors, exacerbating tensions in the oil-rich nation.
It follows the 2024 election victory of coup leader Brice Oligui Nguema with over 90 percent of votes, ending the Bongo dynasty’s long rule.
