A coalition of Gabonese civil society organizations in Libreville declared on Saturday their initiation of legal proceedings against the escalating wave of cyberattacks, specifically targeting the widespread hacking of WhatsApp and Facebook accounts across the nation.

The collective has documented approximately fifty grievances from Gabonese citizens spanning various demographics. Their internal analysis attributes the surge in these digital intrusions primarily to the extensive adoption of virtual private networks (VPNs), utilized by many to circumvent the ongoing nationwide suspension of social media platforms, imposed since February 17.

«The telephone numbers linked to these attacks frequently begin with international prefixes such as +500 or +600. These foreign dialing codes strongly suggest that the perpetrators may not be operating from within Gabon itself,» stated Patrice Thérence Mezui, who serves as the president of the National Human Rights League and the designated spokesperson for the collective.

This concerning trend, once a minor issue, has dramatically intensified since the High Authority of Communication (HAC) officially suspended social media access on February 17, 2026, according to the collective’s assessment.

«This action constitutes a direct infringement upon the Constitution, particularly violating the fundamental liberties enshrined within its provisions,» Mr. Mezui emphasized.

«The Court declared itself without jurisdiction, citing the administrative nature of the contested decree,» he further explained.

Similarly, the Tribunal de première instance also ruled that it lacked the authority to hear the case. Consequently, the collective lodged its final appeal with the Conseil d’État. «We currently await the Conseil d’État’s ruling,» he concluded, though the exact date of this latest filing was not disclosed.

Immediate lifting of social media suspension demanded

The collective asserts that the ongoing suspension of social media platforms directly renders Gabonese citizens vulnerable to these cyberattacks. They are demanding the immediate termination of this ban, which was initially temporary but has now become virtually permanent. Additionally, they urge the President of the Republic to enact the recently passed parliamentary legislation concerning social media usage. Finally, the group proposes opening dialogues on the matter of social media to achieve a nationwide consensus.

The HAC had previously justified its measure by citing the imperative to combat informational chaos, cyberharassment, and hateful content online. However, civil society organizations contend that this action is disproportionate and fundamentally contradicts the principles of a rule-of-law state.