The Gabonese government announced on Saturday, October 24, 2026, that it has restored access to social media platforms after an eight-month suspension. The High Communication Authority (HAC), Gabon's media regulator, stated that popular networks such as Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram are once again operational.
The HAC originally introduced the restrictions on February 17, 2026, citing concerns that online content was fueling conflict and deepening divisions. At the time of the suspension, President Brice Oligui Nguema was managing social unrest, including strikes by teachers and civil servants over pay and working conditions. The opposition characterized the suspension as an abuse of power.
To facilitate the restoration of service, the government implemented new regulations that require social media users to provide formal identification, ending online anonymity. The HAC stated these measures were part of a modernization of the legal framework to better regulate digital platforms. The regulator also noted it is cooperating with the management of global platforms, including Meta, to improve content moderation.
The restoration of social media affects approximately 2.5 million residents in Gabon, where platforms like Facebook and TikTok are popular for business and personal communication. During the blackout, many users turned to virtual private networks (VPNs) to bypass blocks, with provider Proton reporting a 60,000-percent increase in downloads the day after the ban began.
The end of the ban follows a shift in the government's approach to digital oversight under President Nguema, who came to power after a 2023 coup that ended 55 years of rule by the Bongo family. While Nguema initially pledged to reform the country and move away from the digital blackouts used by previous administrations, critics point to the eight-month suspension and the arrest of former Prime Minister Alain-Claude Bilie-By-Nze as evidence of a repressive climate.
As of Saturday, October 24, 2026, the platforms have returned to service for the general public. Previous legal attempts to overturn the social media ban were rejected by the courts. The HAC continues its stated cooperation with tech companies to monitor and moderate content under the updated national regulations.