Gabon restores social media after eight-month ban

Gabon lifted a social media ban on Saturday, following an eight-month suspension that sparked widespread criticism. The High Communication Authority (HAC) had shut down Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and WhatsApp on February 17, citing content online as a catalyst for conflict and division in society. This move came as President Brice Oligui Nguema faced social unrest merely a year after his election.

The HAC's spokesman, Jean-Claude Franck Mendome, announced the suspension's lifting during a televised statement. Despite the ban, some individuals managed to access social media using VPNs, with Proton reporting a staggering 60,000-percent increase in VPN tool downloads the day after the ban. The HAC stated that the suspension aimed to allow the government to better regulate social media.

Now, users must provide formal identification to access social networks, effectively ending online anonymity. The HAC is collaborating with Meta, TikTok, and YouTube to enhance content moderation on these platforms. Gabon's opposition had vehemently opposed the ban, labeling it as an abuse of power, and faced numerous legal challenges, all of which were rejected.

Former Prime Minister Alain-Claude Bilie-By-Nze, currently imprisoned for alleged abuse of trust and fraud since April, was one of the most vocal critics. The social media ban and Bilie-By-Nze's arrest were seen as signs of a repressive climate in Gabon, casting doubt on President Nguema's promise of democratic change following a 2023 coup that ended 55 years of Bongo family rule.