Gabon Lifts Eight-month Social Media Blockade

WHO:

BBC - Gabonese authorities imposed the social media ban.

BBC - The opposition condemned the ban as an abuse of power.

BBC - Younger people in Gabon use social media for business and pleasure.

WHAT:

BBC - Access to social media in Gabon was restored after an eight-month ban.

BBC - The ban affected platforms including Facebook, TikTok, YouTube and Instagram.

WHERE:

BBC - The restoration and ban concerned Gabon, a Central African nation.

WHEN:

BBC - The social media ban lasted eight months.

WHY:

BBC - Authorities said online content was fuelling conflict.

BBC - The move to restore access came as a shock to the country.

HOW:

BBC - Social media platforms were blocked by the authorities; access was subsequently restored.

(UPDATED October 25, 2026 19:04 UTC)

Social media access has been restored in Gabon after an eight-month ban imposed by the country’s authorities. The block affected major platforms including Facebook, TikTok, YouTube and Instagram, leaving users unable to access them. Authorities said online content was fuelling conflict, a justification the opposition condemned as an abuse of power. The restoration came as a shock to the country. In Gabon, a Central African nation, younger people rely on social media not only for entertainment, but also to run businesses and connect with customers. The authorities had blocked the platforms, but have now lifted the restrictions, ending the ban. The return of access restores these channels for communication, business and pleasure after months offline.