The key facts

  • The HAC lifted the social media ban that had been in place for eight months since February
  • The ban was imposed over “offensive, false and inflammatory” content; citizens circumvented it via VPN
  • In February, a rule was adopted requiring the provision of a verified name, address and ID number

Block lifted after eight months

The authorities of Gabon have lifted the ban on social media that had been in place for eight months, the High Communication Council (HAC) said in a statement on Saturday, Anadolu reports. The restriction affected major platforms — WhatsApp, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube and Instagram — and was imposed in February over online insults, drawing widespread condemnation.

The regulator's motives and the conditions for lifting the ban

The regulator accused users of spreading defamatory, hate-inciting, false and insulting content and claimed that online posts undermined national security and social cohesion. HAC spokesman Jean-Claude Mendome said the council “decided to lift the suspension of social platforms”, adding that it had been necessary to “allow the government to adapt the legal framework for better regulation of social media.” According to him, the lifting of the ban was preceded by direct negotiations with major international technology companies on mechanisms to improve moderation. The HAC urged users to be “more responsible and mature” in online communication.

Context of the ban and reaction

The block was announced amid anti-government protests over the high cost of living; human rights advocates called it an attack on internet freedom. According to reports, thousands of citizens circumvented the restrictions using VPNs. At the same time, a new rule came into force in February requiring social media users to provide a verified name, address and identity card number. Gabon is ruled by General Brice Oligui Nguema, who came to power as a result of the 2023 coup, which ended 55 years of rule by the Bongo family; in April he won the presidential election, but less than a year after his election faced a wave of public unrest.

Why it matters

The decision restores millions of Gabonese people's access to the main channels of communication and information that had been unavailable for eight months without workarounds such as VPNs. At the same time, the retention of February's user identification requirement means that the return of the platforms is accompanied by tighter control over online activity — a practical consequence for residents: access to social media is now legal, but tied to disclosing personal data to the state.