Gabon restores social networks after eight months of suspension

Social media in Gabon, suspended for over eight months, were restored on October 24, as announced by the High Authority of Communication (HAC). The suspension, initiated on February 17, aimed to prevent content threatening national stability. The HAC's spokesperson stated that the decision to lift the suspension was made to enhance social media regulation. Major platforms like Facebook and TikTok had been inaccessible, while WhatsApp functioned partially. The government mandated user identification to eliminate online anonymity. The suspension faced criticism from the opposition, particularly regarding the imprisonment of former Prime Minister Alain-Claude Bilie-By-Nze. This situation has contributed to a repressive political climate, contrasting with the democratic hopes following President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema's rise to power in 2025 after a coup in 2023.