Gabon’s Cracking Down on Dissent: A Pattern of Repression

The recent indefinite suspension of major social media platforms in Gabon has sparked widespread concern among rights groups and activists. The move, citing security concerns during anti-government protests, is the latest installment in a long-standing pattern of repression in the oil-rich country, which continues to grapple with poverty, nepotism, and corruption.

Gabon’s history of cracking down on dissent is well-documented. In August 2023, just before a disputed election that saw Ali Bongo retain power, the internet was shut down for four days under military rule. Critics argue that General Brice Oligui Nguema, who presented himself as a reformer, is merely continuing his predecessors’ draconian policies.

The shutdowns and restrictions on social media are not only a blatant disregard for people’s fundamental rights but also a testament to the regime’s capacity to surveil and control its citizens. Felicia Anthonio, campaign manager at the #KeepItOn coalition, noted that “This sustained intentional interference with access to essential digital communication platforms in Gabon is a blatant disregard for people’s fundamental rights.”

The use of collective punishment through unconstitutional restriction of freedom of expression has become a hallmark of the regime’s response to dissent. Activists and opposition members have reported having their accounts suspended due to efforts by state officials, while gendarmerie have been stopping young men at road checkpoints in Libreville and other urban centres to confiscate mobile phones with VPNs installed or detain the owners.

The temporary lifting of restrictions in April only served as a reprieve before new regulations were passed mandating social media users to provide verified names, addresses, and ID numbers. Social networks are now at risk of 50 million central African CFA franc fines (£66,000) and prison terms for non-compliance. This is part of a broader crackdown on dissent that includes a new nationality code signed in February and published last month.

Critics argue that the code restricts the rights of naturalised citizens and makes it easier for the state to strip citizens of their nationality. Former prime minister and opposition leader Alain-Claude Bilie-By-Nze, who filed a suit challenging the restrictions in a Libreville court, was arrested in April for alleged fraud and breach of trust in an old case from 2008.

The Gabonese government’s response to criticism has been characterised by deflection. Government spokesperson Charles Edgard Mombo suggested that any criticism was merely because the code had gone into force before parliamentary ratification, while citing article 99 of Gabon’s constitution which mandates parliament to ratify ordinances signed by the president during times of urgency.

However, critics argue that this is a thinly veiled attempt to justify the crackdown on dissent. Former intelligence operative Nelly Ngabima notes that “In reality, strictly speaking, nothing has changed. You cannot remove Mr Ali Bongo because you condemned certain behaviours and then arrive and reproduce the same.”

As Gabon continues down this path of repression, its citizens remain silenced. The international community must take note of these developments and condemn the regime’s actions in no uncertain terms.

The struggle for democracy and human rights in Gabon is far from over. Nelly Ngabima pointed out that “Today Gabonese people still die of hunger, have no jobs and struggle to get medical treatment… all that already existed during Ali Bongo’s time.” This stark reminder highlights the regime’s fundamental disconnection from its citizens’ needs and aspirations.

The people of Gabon deserve better than a regime that consistently prioritises control over freedom. As long as the current president continues down a path that echoes his predecessors, it remains to be seen how long his citizens will remain silenced.