HRF is alarmed by Gabon’s decision to indefinitely cut off access to social media networks amid rising social contestation and online criticism of Brice Oligui Nguema’s regime. This draconian act of collective punishment hurts the public and seeks to bring the digital sphere under the regime’s control.

On Wednesday, Gabon’s state-run High Authority for Communication suspended social media services, claiming that “inappropriate, defamatory, hateful,” and “injurious” social media content threatened social cohesion, the stability of public institutions, and national security. The measure comes as authorities face growing popular frustration about high unemployment, lack of access to water and electricity, and disillusionment about electoral promises. Teachers and other civil servants have been on strike over poor pay and working conditions.

In an interview, Jennyfer Mélodie Sambat, spokeswoman of Gabon’s presidency, justified the measure as an act of regulation and “temporary suspension” targeting Meta’s platforms. She accused Meta of hosting content deemed by authorities to be defamatory and “political manipulation,” and accused the company of being unresponsive to officials’ requests to take down such content. She added that Gabon and Meta were in talks.

However, the suspension also affects platforms owned by other companies, including Youtube and TikTok. Bernard Christian Rekoula, a prominent digital activist and human rights defender, said that while some influencers may have made slanderous accusations online, pro-regime commentators have also done the same to their critics. He argued that the regime was fueling rumors and seeking to control the digital information space.