A post by Sadibou Marong, director of the Sub-Saharan Africa office of Reporters Without Borders (RSF), is causing strong reactions after the decision by Gabon's High Authority for Communication (HAC) to suspend access to social networks.

In his statement, the RSF official described the measure as "worrying," arguing that it restricts access to information "abusively and disproportionately." He believes this suspension directly hinders the work of journalists who rely on digital platforms to disseminate their content independently and reach a wide audience.

Sadibou Marong also highlights the economic consequences of such a decision. Many Gabonese media outlets, which boast hundreds of thousands of social media followers, could experience a significant drop in their audience. This situation risks leading to a loss of advertisers in a context already marked by the precarious state of the press sector in Gabon and weak public support.

While acknowledging concerns about the spread of misinformation and defamatory statements, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls on the authorities to prioritize targeted and proportionate measures. The organization urges the High Authority for Communication (HAC) to lift the suspension and to initiate an urgent review of the responsibility of digital platforms in the distribution of information, without infringing on fundamental freedoms.

For RSF, the fight against disinformation should not be used as a pretext for a generalized restriction of access to social networks, which have now become essential tools for information and public debate.