Omanghana
Gabon’s High Communication Authority (HAC) has lifted an eight-month suspension of social media platforms, restoring access to Facebook, TikTok, YouTube and Instagram under stricter digital regulations.
The decision, announced on Saturday, October 24, 2026, ends restrictions imposed on February 17. Authorities had justified the shutdown by citing concerns about online content they said encouraged conflict and social division.
The restoration of access comes with new identification requirements intended to end anonymous use of social networks. Users are required to provide verified personal information, including their names, addresses and identification numbers.
The HAC said the suspension had allowed authorities to update the country’s legal framework for digital communications. It also said it was working with companies behind the affected platforms, including Meta, TikTok and YouTube, to strengthen content moderation.
The ban was introduced amid social unrest under President Brice Oligui Nguema’s administration. Civil servants and teachers had protested over low pay, working conditions and rising living costs, alongside broader anti-government demonstrations.
Nguema came to power following the 2023 military coup that ended the Bongo family’s 55-year rule.
Opposition figures criticized the social media restrictions as an abuse of state authority and an infringement on internet freedom. Legal challenges brought against the suspension were rejected by Gabonese courts.
During the shutdown, many residents used virtual private networks to bypass the restrictions. Privacy services provider Proton reported a 60,000% increase in downloads of its VPN tools in Gabon the day after the block began.
Although the decision restores access to major platforms, the identification requirements and expanded moderation arrangements introduce tighter oversight of social media use in the country.
Source: Omanghana
