Gabon, a country in central Africa, has barred the access of its people to social media platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, WhatsApp among others.
The country’s High Authority for Communication announced the ban in a statement on Tuesday evening, AP reported. “The High Authority for Communication has decided to immediately suspend social media throughout Gabon until further notice,” spokesperson for the authority Jean Claude Franck Mendome said while reading out a statement.
According to the Authority, it had observed on social media and digital platforms content which it described as inappropriate, defamatory, hateful and insulting towards the country’s institutions and national security. It even said that such contents constitutes offenses punishable under national and international laws.
The ban was confirmed by NetBlocks. The social media platforms banned include Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, YouTube, TikTok, and WhatsApp.
In response, there has been a massive spike in citizens turning to VPN. David Peterson, the General Manager of Proton VPN, posted on X that: Proton VPN’s sign-ups from Gabon reached a staggering +60,000% above normal levels on Thursday as social media platforms remain restricted.
In a statement to Tech Radar, he remarked that Gabon has a history of digital blackouts especially during politically sensitive periods, adding that a similar pattern was observed in 2023 when Proton VPN recorded a spike in sign-ups by 25,000%.
In 2023, rebel officers in the African state had seized power following disputed elections in which former president Ali Bongo Ondimba was declared winner. Ondimba had been in power in the oil-rich country since 2009. The president was placed under house arrest and one of his was even arrested on charges of treason.
Ondimba was toppled was by Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, a former military officer, and his Republican Guards and Oligui was later announced as the country’s interim president. In 2025, he became the victor of Gabonese presidential elections and was announced country’s president.
School teachers began striking over pay and conditions in December 2025 and protests over similar demands have since spread to other public sectors — health, higher education and broadcasting.
