Following their suspension of WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook, the government of Gabon has said global tech firm Meta, who owns the three platforms, is largely responsible for their continued suspension of social media platforms in the country.
The platforms have been offline in Gabon for the past two weeks, and the government of Gabon insist the platforms will remain offline until key conditions are met.
The government’s comment follows political developments in the Central African nation in the wake of the suspension.
In a statement, Gabon’s government said it had reached out to Meta to address what it described as “grave threats to national security” being spread on digital networks.
“The Gabonese Republic notes that Meta has not yet fully complied with all the conditions it set for the reinstatement of social media platforms,” the statement said.
Officials said the blackout was aimed at preventing the spread of false information and protecting public safety, warning that social platforms had been used to fan unrest and hate speech.
“The suspension will remain in effect until mission-critical concerns are fully addressed,” the government added.
Meta has not publicly responded to Gabon’s official statement, but international digital rights groups have urged both sides to find a solution quickly, saying that shutting down social networks hampers communication and economic activity.
Many Gabonese residents have criticised the extended outage, describing it as an infringement on free expression and access to information.
The government called for calm and said it will continue diplomatic engagement with tech companies to restore services “in a manner that preserves security and public order.”
