The hot topic this week in Gabon is the suspension of social media until further notice.

A decision by the High Authority for Communication, announced abruptly by some, certainly without prior notice, on the evening of Tuesday, February 17th. The measure has already taken effect throughout the country; since Wednesday, some 2.5 million Gabonese have been without access to Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

The stated reason: these networks would serve as a platform for the dissemination of statements that "undermine social cohesion, the stability of the institutions of the Republic and national security".

Marie-Noelle Ada Meyo, Special Advisor and Deputy Spokesperson to the President of the Republic of Gabon, understands that this decision may be difficult for Gabonese people to accept. However, she considers it necessary to reopen the debate on regulating the use of social media in the country: this measure may be an opportunity for Gabonese authorities to sit down and rethink how to manage digital media in Gabon. I think these are actions that have already been considered in the past, and this decision by the High Authority for Communication makes sense and should allow everyone to ask themselves the right questions. How do we want social media to be involved in our daily lives in Gabon today? What image do we want to project through the use of social media? And perhaps, as I said earlier, this is an opportunity to see to what extent we can implement mechanisms that will allow us to legislate and regulate the use of digital technology in Gabon.

However, this decision comes amid a climate of tension. Since the end of 2025, several key sectors of the civil service have been engaged in protracted strikes, with particularly strong mobilization among teachers. These movements are beginning to spread to other sectors such as healthcare and higher education. Some are questioning whether there might be an underlying desire on the part of the government to quell any potential popular uprising.

It seems to me that the information presented by the High Authority for Communication was quite clear, and to remain on the subject of the crisis within the national education system, I can assure you that today almost all schools have reopened their doors to both children and teachers. From the very first hours of the crisis, the Gabonese authorities, led by the Head of State, immediately initiated a national dialogue which, ultimately, resulted in reforms. As of today, regarding this sector, we are talking about 1,000 budgeted positions made available in 2023. And in the 2026 draft budget law, we are talking about 4,000 additional budgeted positions, along with other actions undertaken to respond favorably to the demands of teachers, which are entirely legitimate, but which unfortunately did not originate in the current situation, she explains.

As a direct consequence of this suspension, demand for virtual private networks (VPNs) has exploded, according to recent industry data. Reports from digital security service providers indicate that VPN demand in Gabon surged by nearly 400% (387% to be exact) within 48 hours of the ban being announced. Sources close to the industry suggest that over 180,000 users downloaded VPN applications in the first week, compared to just 45,000 before the measure.