Gabon blocks social media as labor tensions escalate

Gabon has ordered an immediate and open-ended suspension of social media access, raising fresh questions about digital rights and political stability as labor unrest spreads across the country. 

The directive, issued late Tuesday by the High Authority for Communication, instructs internet service providers to block major platforms, citing national security concerns and what officials describe as the circulation of false information.

The move comes at a sensitive moment in Gabon’s post-coup transition. 

By Wednesday afternoon, internet monitoring group NetBlocks reported widespread restrictions affecting WhatsApp, Facebook, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube on most local networks.

The disruption has sharply curtailed online communication, digital payments and independent reporting in a country where mobile internet use has expanded in recent years. 

HAC spokesperson Jean-Claude Mendome said the measure was intended to curb “inappropriate, defamatory and hateful content.”

He accused unnamed actors of organizing online harassment and leaking personal data in ways that could undermine state institutions.

Authorities have described the shutdown as temporary but have not provided a timeline for restoring services.

Labor unrest adds pressure 

The suspension coincides with rising domestic pressure on President Brice Oligui Nguema, who faces a nationwide teachers’ strike that began in December 2025 over pay disputes.

The walkout has since spread to parts of the health sector and public broadcasting, reflecting broader frustration over the cost of living and job prospects. 

Civil society groups and opposition figures say the timing of the blackout risks deepening public distrust.

Several have called for clearer communication from authorities and safeguards to protect freedom of expression.

Post-coup transition under scrutiny 

Nguema took power in a 2023 coup that ended more than five decades of rule by the Bongo family.

He was elected in 2025 after promising democratic reforms and signaling a break from earlier internet shutdowns. 

The latest restrictions have renewed debate over whether the government is reverting to tougher controls at a pivotal point for Gabon’s political and economic outlook. 

With no clear date for services to resume, businesses, media outlets and households are adjusting to an uncertain digital landscape, even as tensions on the streets continue to simmer.