Event Summary
On 23 February 2026, in Libreville, four compatriots, Maimouna Abdoul Kadir, Akue Essimengane Teddy Annael, Mabandah Elisabeth and Ndomba Mouele Cabrel-Jeannis, filed a constitutional challenge against the communiqué of 17 February 2026 ordering the immediate suspension of social media throughout the country. This action illustrates the desire to find a legal solution to a problem that directly affects citizens. The objective is twofold: to denounce the illegal suspension of social media and to highlight its economic and social impacts, while reminding everyone that the protection of fundamental freedoms must remain at the heart of any digital regulation.
The decision by the High Authority for Communication (HAC) to suspend digital social media platforms on 17 February 2026 has sparked a strong reaction within Gabon’s civic sphere, both from the authorities and civil society. The authorities justified the suspension of social media on the grounds of fears of destabilisation linked to the dissemination of content deemed hateful or misleading. This suspension mainly takes the form of targeted filtering of digital platforms and a slowdown in internet connection speeds. The government has indicated that it has entered into discussions with certain platforms, notably those belonging to the Meta group, but has not provided any public confirmation of the nature of these exchanges. Furthermore, no information has been provided to date on when normal service will resume, but this status quo does not seem to bother those who initiated the measure.
The consequences for the population and civil society were immediate: interruption of channels of information and mobilisation, loss of revenue for businesses dependent on social media, and increased concerns among NGOs and international actors about the future of freedom of expression and the right to information in Gabon.