Gabon says access to social media restored after eight-month ban
Gabon says it has lifted a social media ban imposed eight months ago, a move that drew widespread criticism at the time.
The Central African nation of Gabon has lifted an eight-month ban on social media platforms, according to the High Communication Authority (HAC). The decision was announced in a televised statement on Saturday, drawing widespread criticism at the time it was introduced on 17 February. The HAC had argued that online content was fueling conflict and deepening divisions in the country, which has a population of approximately 2.5 million people.
The ban affected popular platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram, which were especially popular among younger citizens who used them for both personal and professional purposes. Many Gabonese individuals resorted to using virtual private networks (VPNs) to bypass the restrictions. The move came during a period of social unrest, just a year after President Brice Oligui Nguema's election, as teachers and civil servants had been striking over low pay and poor working conditions.
The opposition alleged that the suspension represented an abuse of power. Nguema, who won the 2022 elections with over 90% of the vote, had previously pledged to reform Gabon, a small country with abundant oil and timber resources. The previous government had previously employed digital blackouts as a tool to control information. The HAC has not yet commented to the BBC on the reversal of the ban.
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- Gabon restores social media after eight-month ban kahawatungu.com
- Gabon restores social media after eight-month ban dailytrust.com
- Gabon says access to social media restored after eight-month ban bbc.co.uk
