Gabon has restored access to social media after an eight-month ban that drew widespread criticism at home and abroad. The country's media regulator, the High Communication Authority (HAC), announced the reversal in a televised statement at the weekend, ending one of Africa's longest recent platform shutdowns.

The ban had been imposed on 17 February 2026, when the regulator said online content was fuelling conflict and deepening divisions in the country. It blocked Facebook, TikTok, YouTube and Instagram, while WhatsApp access was also disrupted at times.

VPN workarounds and a contested backdrop

Many users turned to virtual private networks to keep reaching the blocked services. One VPN provider reported a 60,000 per cent increase in downloads the day after the ban took effect, according to coverage of the shutdown.

The ban came as President Brice Oligui Nguema faced a wave of social unrest, with teachers and civil servants striking over low pay and poor working conditions, less than a year after his election. The opposition condemned the suspension as an abuse of power, and legal challenges against it were rejected by the courts.

Access returns, anonymity does not

The restoration does not mean a return to the old rules. The government has introduced a requirement for social media users to provide formal identification, effectively ending online anonymity. The regulator said the pause had allowed the government to adapt its legal framework to better regulate social media, and that it is working with Meta, TikTok and YouTube to improve content moderation.

Businesses, creators and free-speech advocates welcomed the return of access, but whether the new identification regime is enforced strictly — and whether a future shutdown remains possible — will become clearer as Gabonese users return to the platforms in full.

Source: News Central TV