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The media watchdog in Gabon has announced that social media platforms would be “immediately suspended” until further notice.
The government on Tuesday cited concerns about online content, saying it was fueling division and instability in society.
In a televised statement, Jean-Claude Mendome, spokesman for the High Authority for Communication, said the decision followed the circulation of “inappropriate, defamatory, hateful, and insulting content.”
Mendome argued it undermined “human dignity, public morality, the honour of citizens, social cohesion, the stability of the Republic’s institutions, and national security.”
He also spoke of the “spread of false information,” “cyberbullying, and “unauthorised disclosure of personal data” as contributing factors.
“These actions are likely, in the case of Gabon, to generate social conflict, destabilise the institutions of the Republic, and seriously jeopardise national unity, democratic progress, and achievements,” Mendome added.
The regulator did not specify which platforms would be affected by the suspension.
However, it stated that “freedom of expression, including freedom of comment and criticism,” remained “a fundamental right enshrined in Gabon”.
The decision was made less than a year after President Brice Oligui Nguema was elected, which sparked a wave of social unrest.
Since December, teachers have been on strike over their wages and working conditions, and rallies have extended to other public sectors like broadcasting, higher education, and health.
