Internet Shutdowns

Gabon's government ordered a public curfew and for the Internet to be shut down in Gabon following presidential, legislative, and local elections held on Saturday, 26 August 2023. Communications Minister Rodrigue Mboumba Bissawou said on public television that Internet access was suspended until further notice, noting the curfew and shutdown was ordered to "counter the spread of calls for violence... and false information." More than 40 civil society organizations issued a statement on 24 August 2023 calling on the government of Gabon to guarantee open and secure Internet access during the elections. The group stated that it is essential that governments adopt and prioritize measures to ensure that the election process is inclusive, free, and fair, by providing voters with unfettered access to information and avenues for free expression, both offline and online. On 30 August 2023, the military in Gabon seized power and placed the current president under house arrest. After the coup announcement, Internet service began returning across the country.

Gabon’s government reportedly shut down the Internet and broadcasting services following a coup attempt by the army against President Ali Bongo. Internet traffic in Gabon fell sharply at around 8:00 a.m. local time, according to research by Internet Without Borders, indicating the start of the outage. The government has not publicly acknowledged the blackout.