Gabon has suspended Facebook and TikTok until further notice. The Central African nation's media regulator says these platforms share content that creates conflict and division in society. The High Authority for Communication announced the ban on Tuesday. It cited risks of "conflict-inducing excesses" without naming other platforms. Teachers have been striking since December over pay and conditions. Protests spread to other public workers in health, education, and broadcasting sectors. Jean-Claude Mendome, spokesman for the media authority, said the platforms spread "inappropriate, defamatory, hateful and insulting content." He added this content harms "human dignity, public morality, social cohesion, the stability of the republic’s institutions, and national security." Mendome also mentioned issues like "false information," "cyberbullying," and "unauthorised disclosure of personal data" as reasons for the ban. He stressed that freedom of expression is guaranteed but cannot break national and international laws. “These actions are likely, in the case of Gabon, to generate social conflict, destabilise the institutions of the republic and seriously jeopardise national unity, democratic progress and achievements,” Mendome said. The suspension follows a turbulent year after President Brice Oligui Nguema was elected. In August 2023, previous President Ali Bongo Ondimba was ousted in a military coup. This follows a trend of military takeovers in West Africa, including Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. Earlier, Mali’s media regulator also banned some French broadcasters for allegedly spreading false reports. Gabon's move signals its tough stand against social media content it sees as a threat to peace and order.