Gabon is currently experiencing significant controversy surrounding recently introduced social media regulations. An ordinance, dated February 26th but only publicly disclosed last week, has ignited widespread concern. Central to this debate is Article 4, which explicitly prohibits the use of pseudonyms online. Under these new directives, all social media users must be clearly identifiable, providing their full name and personal identification number (PIN). For corporate entities, registration details from the commercial registry are now mandatory.
Bienvenue Effayong, a content creator with close ties to the Gabonese government, is widely recognized online by his pseudonym « Bitome », which translates to « the problems » in the local dialect. His outspoken views on social media frequently attract aggressive criticism from anonymous users.
Effayong strongly endorses the new legislation, stating, « I am 100%, if not 1,000%, in agreement. People often hide behind fake accounts, false names, and fabricated profiles to engage in defamation, insults, and even acts of destabilization, simply because they believe they are anonymous. From now on, everyone will be accountable for their actions. »
« collapse of freedom of expression »
Marcel Libama, a former transitional Member of Parliament, views the ordinance as a grave infringement upon freedom of expression, a right explicitly protected by the nation’s Constitution. He asserts, « This ordinance signals the collapse of freedom of expression and democracy within our country. We do not require such a liberty-restricting ordinance, which, in several aspects, stands in direct opposition to our Constitution. »
The ordinance, enacted during the parliamentary intersession, has immediate legal effect. However, it still requires submission to the Parliament for potential modification, ratification, or rejection. It’s important to note that social media platforms have been officially suspended throughout Gabon since February. The Gabonese government justifies these measures by citing a desire to safeguard the youth and curb online abuses such as defamation, insults, and attempts to destabilize national institutions.