Teachers' strike in Gabon
Teachers in Gabon expanded their strike to include healthcare, higher education, and broadcasting sectors on February 19, 2026, leading the government to suspend social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and WhatsApp. As of February 19, 2026, the strike, which began in December 2025, continues nationwide, protesting a decade-long wage freeze and demanding the release of two jailed union members. The government cited national security concerns and the need to counter false information for the social media suspensions, which opposition figures described as creating a "climate of fear and repression." Teachers had previously voted unanimously on January 31 to extend their strike, rejecting earlier government concessions despite a memorandum of understanding signed on January 30.
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24 updatesThe teachers' strike in Gabon has reportedly expanded to include the healthcare, higher education, and broadcasting sectors. The government has suspended social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and WhatsApp to curb unrest stemming from the ongoing strike over pay and working conditions.
Thousands of teachers in Gabon continue a nationwide strike, now in its sixth week, protesting a decade-long wage freeze and unresolved career grievances. Teachers are also demanding the release of two union members jailed for supporting the strike. In response to rising social tensions, the Gabonese government has indefinitely suspended social media platforms, citing the need to counter the spread of false information.
The Gabonese government has suspended access to social media platforms, including Facebook and TikTok, citing national security concerns amid ongoing anti-government protests. This action, taken during a teachers' strike that began in December 2025, has been described by opposition figures as imposing a "climate of fear and repression."
On February 2nd, Gabonese teachers were reportedly split on whether to continue their strike, with some educators returning to classrooms after the government pledged to settle unpaid salary arrears by February 25th.
Gabon's transitional government has agreed to phase-in salary changes and administrative fixes for 12,000 public servants, including over 3,000 teachers, with classrooms expected to reopen this week following a protocol published on February 2nd.
The Ministry of National Education has adjusted the school calendar due to the ongoing teachers' strike. The Gabonese government announced a series of quantified measures and an implementation schedule starting end of February 2026 to resolve the strike, including the lifting of the administrative freeze.
Gabonese public school teachers voted unanimously on January 31 to extend their strike, rejecting government concessions and keeping classrooms shut. The teachers' collective "SOS Education" stated that the release of two detained union leaders did not meet their demands.
The SOS Éducation la Base collective has demanded the publication of a list of 4,000 individuals whose administrative situations need to be regularized. This demand follows the recent memorandum of understanding signed to end the teachers' strike.
A memorandum of understanding has been signed between the government and the SOS Éducation la Base collective, leading to calls for teachers to prepare for a possible return to classrooms. This indicates meaningful progress in negotiations to end the strike.
The teachers' strike continues to paralyze public schools and universities across Gabon, with ongoing negotiations failing to yield concrete results. Classrooms remain largely empty, and the government urges teachers to return to work while discussions proceed.
via africanews.com·africanews.com·ewn.co.za·weareiowa.com·youtube.com
The Union Démocratique des Bâtisseurs (UDB) is facing scrutiny for its silence regarding the teachers' strike, with an eminent member, Séraphin Moundounga, commenting on the issue.
via gabonreview.com
The teachers' strike in Gabon has been ongoing since December, marking the first major test for President Oligui Nguema. Other civil servants in health, higher education, and state broadcasting sectors are now also threatening industrial action.
via radarafrica.com
The government acknowledges the "legitimate" nature of the teachers' demands, attributing them to decades of past mismanagement. Despite this, two union members are arrested, and the education ministry's budget is substantially increased for 2026.
via africanews.com·africanews.com·ewn.co.za·weareiowa.com·youtube.com
Africanews reports that the strike has been ongoing for six weeks, representing the first major social unrest under President Brice Oligui Nguema's transitional government. Teachers reiterate their demand for the release of two imprisoned union members as a prerequisite for negotiations.
via africanews.com·africanews.com·ewn.co.za·weareiowa.com·youtube.com
Public education institutions in Gabon did not reopen as scheduled on January 5, following the extension of a strike initiated on December 10, 2025, by unions including SENA, SYNETECPRO, and SOS Éducation, with over 90% participation.
via ei-ie.org
Two Gabonese union leaders, Marcel Libama and Simon Ndong Edzo, were arrested on January 19 and 20, 2026, escalating tensions during an ongoing teachers' strike that began in December 2025. The arrests have heightened concerns within civil society, as many educational institutions remain deserted with teachers refusing to return to work until their demands are met.
via RFI
Fears intensify regarding a "blank academic year" (année blanche) due to the ongoing paralysis of the education system, placing parents in a difficult position between supporting teachers and worrying about their children's academic future.
via africanews.com·africanews.com·ewn.co.za·weareiowa.com·youtube.com
Teachers vote to extend their strike, defying government calls for a resumption of classes and emphasizing that the decision to end the industrial action rests solely with the union. The Ministry of National Education's efforts to encourage school attendance prove largely ineffective.
via africanews.com·africanews.com·ewn.co.za·weareiowa.com·youtube.com
A tripartite meeting was held on January 13, 2026, reportedly offering hope for a resolution to the teachers' strike. Despite the ongoing industrial action, some educators have continued to conduct classes.
via youtube.com
Teachers are reportedly angered by a 10-year wage freeze, and other civil servants are threatening similar strike action. In response, the Gabonese government initiated a fast-track review on January 13, 2026, to address administrative and pay backlogs for approximately 3,000 teachers after recent talks with union representatives.
The prolonged strike severely impacts students and parents, leading to growing public concern about a potentially compromised academic year. SOS Education also demands the release of its members as a precondition for negotiations.
via africanews.com·africanews.com·ewn.co.za·weareiowa.com·youtube.com
Reports highlight the deep historical roots of teacher grievances in Gabon, with similar demands for improved living conditions and administrative regularization dating back to 1990, underscoring the systemic nature of the issues.
via africanews.com·africanews.com·ewn.co.za·weareiowa.com·youtube.com
The Gabonese government, through the Vice-President, begins high-level meetings with education, public service, and budget ministers to address the crisis and teachers' demands, while appealing for a return to classes.
via africanews.com·africanews.com·ewn.co.za·weareiowa.com·youtube.com
The teachers' strike, now formally led by the platform SOS Education, significantly escalates, causing widespread paralysis of the national education system as teachers reject initial government offers like "blue cards" for post allocations.
via africanews.com·africanews.com·ewn.co.za·weareiowa.com·youtube.com
2025
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