Gabon restores social media access after an eight-month ban

Gabon’s media regulator said access to social media was restored on Saturday after an eight-month suspension that sparked widespread criticism.

The High Communication Authority (HAC) pulled the plug on social networks on 17 February blaming content posted online for stoking conflict and division in society.

The crackdown came as Gabonese President Brice Oligui Nguema faced a wave of social unrest less than a year after his election.

Facebook and TikTok, the most-used platforms in the country, as well as YouTube and Instagram were shut down, while WhatsApp worked intermittently.

Some people still managed to access social networks via a virtual private network (VPN), a secure, encrypted tunnel that hides your IP address and protects your internet traffic.

Provider Proton reporting a 60,000 per cent increase in downloads of its VPN tool the day after the ban came into force.

The HAC says the suspension was aimed at allowing "the government to adapt its legal framework to better regulate social media".

Users are now required to provide formal identification, effectively ending online anonymity.

The authority said it was working with Meta - which owns Facebook and Instagram - as well as TikTok and YouTube to "improve content moderation" on those platforms.

Gabon's opposition had slammed the social media ban as an abuse of power, and it faced a string of legal challenges that were all rejected.

Former prime minister Alain-Claude Bilie-By-Nze, who has been in prison since April over alleged abuse of trust and fraud dating back to 2008, was one of the most vocal critics of the measure.

Activists have cited the ban and Bilie-By-Nze's arrest as examples of the repressive climate in Gabon under Nguema.

The 2023 coup that brought the military general into office ended 55 years of rule by the Bongo family, had sparked hope of democratic change.

You may also like

Serbia: crowds celebrate in Belgrade after Vučić admits defeat

Brazil: long queues and river journeys mark decisive presidential vote

Thousands of sheep take over Madrid's streets for Transhumance Festival

From the same country

In Gabon's capital, filling up with diesel has become daily struggle

Naila Opiangah: From Gabon to the global art scene

Gabon opposition leader kept behind bars as court rejects appeal

01:00

Serbia: crowds celebrate in Belgrade after Vučić admits defeat

01:00

Brazil: long queues and river journeys mark decisive presidential vote

01:00

Thousands of sheep take over Madrid's streets for Transhumance Festival

02:08

In Gabon's capital, filling up with diesel has become daily struggle

02:19

Naila Opiangah: From Gabon to the global art scene

01:00

Gabon opposition leader kept behind bars as court rejects appeal

01:00

Serbia: crowds celebrate in Belgrade after Vučić admits defeat

01:00

Brazil: long queues and river journeys mark decisive presidential vote

01:00

Thousands of sheep take over Madrid's streets for Transhumance Festival

02:08

In Gabon's capital, filling up with diesel has become daily struggle

02:19

Naila Opiangah: From Gabon to the global art scene

01:00

Gabon opposition leader kept behind bars as court rejects appeal

BUSINESS Go to video Zimbabwe businessman Wicknell Chivayo and wife killed in helicopter crash

SCI TECH

01:57

Egyptians speak on the future of Artificial Intelligence

NO COMMENT

01:00

Mexico: Aura battles turn a viral meme into live contests

NEWS

01:00

Mali jails government critic for 'discrediting state'

NEWS Go to video Senegal jails three TikTok influencers over posts criticising president Faye

SCI TECH

01:00

French lawmakers approve social media ban for children under 15

01:30

Nigeria

Nigeria's Tinubu defends policies as he launches re-election bid

01:13

Gabon

Gabon restores social media access after an eight-month ban

01:01 Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia's Riyadh airport partially resumes flights after Houthi attacks