Gabonese civil society takes legal action over escalating cyberattacks linked to VPN use

A coalition of Gabonese civil society organizations in Libreville announced Saturday their decision to pursue legal avenues, protesting a significant increase in cyberattacks, particularly the hijacking of WhatsApp and Facebook accounts.

The collective reports having documented over fifty complaints from Gabonese citizens across various socio-economic backgrounds. Their analysis of these cyber incidents suggests a strong correlation with the widespread adoption of virtual private networks (VPNs). These tools have been extensively used by the population to circumvent the official suspension of social media platforms, a measure implemented nationwide since February 17th.

“The phone numbers associated with these attacks typically begin with +500 or +600, indicating foreign origins. This strongly suggests that the perpetrators are not necessarily operating from within Gabon,” explained Patrice Thérence Mezui, president of the National Human Rights League and the collective’s designated spokesperson.

The collective asserts that this phenomenon, once uncommon, has proliferated dramatically since the High Authority of Communication (HAC) officially banned social media usage on February 17, 2026. This decision, they argue, inadvertently created a vulnerability exploited by cybercriminals.

“This action constitutes a clear violation of the Constitution, specifically the chapter dedicated to fundamental freedoms,” Mr. Mezui emphasized.

“The Constitutional Court declared itself incompetent, citing the administrative nature of the contested act,” he further elaborated on their legal efforts.

Similarly, the Court of First Instance also deemed itself without jurisdiction. Consequently, the collective lodged its final complaint with the Council of State. “We are now awaiting the Council of State’s decision,” he concluded, though without specifying the exact date of this latest filing.

Immediate reversal of social media suspension demanded

The collective firmly believes that the ongoing suspension of social media platforms directly exposes Gabonese citizens to these escalating cyberattacks. They are demanding an immediate lifting of this ban, which was initially temporary but has now become almost permanent. Furthermore, they are urging the President of the Republic to enact the recently adopted parliamentary law concerning social media usage. Finally, the group proposes initiating negotiations on the broader issue of social media to achieve a national consensus.

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