Clash between Gabonese TikTokers: When politics enters the drama

In recent days, Gabonese TikTok has become a veritable battlefield. The platform's most popular figures are battling it out with punchlines, insults and juicy revelations. But why this outburst? Is it simply a question of ego? A frantic quest for views and followers? Or does this online spectacle hide something deeper, revealing the political fractures that are shaking the country? We take stock of this virtual war where the audience is exploding and where politics is invited into the debates.

The beginning of the clash

It all starts with well-known actors on Gabonese social networks:

• Nazih, Le Libanco: A real buzz machine, Le Libanco has been able to fully exploit a theme that hits the mark: his pride in being Gabonese. By positioning himself as the "real Gabonese", he has risen to the top of content creators on TikTok. His audience loves his scathing retorts, but his latest outing by insulting a member of parliament as a "dog" shocked many people.
• Princesse de Souba: An expat in France, this charismatic influencer is a strong voice on TikTok, especially when it comes to politics. Princesse has taken a stand against the ongoing referendum in Gabon, becoming a spokesperson for the "no" camp.
• Mister Lephoenix: Known for his wit and sharp analysis, Mister Lephoenix enjoys breaking down deep issues for his audience. He is also often the target of online hate, particularly because of his sexual orientation, which only serves to accentuate his central role in this conflict.
• Tata Huguette: For her part, Tata Huguette is facing attacks on her private life, linked to compromising information circulating on the networks.

The scandal that sets TikTok ablaze

The spark that lit the fuse came from a series of compromising audios. It all started when Bandecon en chef put Princesse de Souba in touch with Nazih, who wanted to talk to her. The two talked for five days. In audio recordings, Nazih suggested that Princesse de Souba join his camp in favor of the "yes" vote in the referendum, asking her what the price would be, explaining that he worked for the DGSS, and swearing on the lives of his parents and Princesse de Souba's children that he would not record the conversation. Princesse then decided to record him, while asking her questions about her sponsors. Nazih remained evasive, but the conversation ended with a response of "10 sticks of CFA francs" from Princesse de Souba.

@princessedesouba #pourtoi #gabon #tiktokgabon🇬🇦tiktok #libreville_gabon🇬🇦 #libreville_gabon🇬🇦🇬🇦🇬🇦🌹 #libreville #gabon🇬🇦 #gabontiktok🇬🇦🇬🇦 🇬🇦 #gabonaise🇬🇦🇬🇦 ♬ original sound - 👸🏾 ᑭᖇIᑎᑕᗴSSᗴ ᘖ SOᑌᗷᗩ🇬🇦🇫🇷

@xnazihx #gabon🇬🇦 #tiktokgabon🇬🇦tiktok #francetiktok #pourvoustous ♬ original sound - NAZIH

These recordings, which went viral, propelled Nazih to the center of attention. Proud of his move, he began to attack all those who opposed him, calling them “hunger activists,” especially Princesse de souba, but also Mister Lephoenix, whom he bombarded with homophobic remarks.

@mister_lephenix #influencer #misterlephenix #tiktokgabon🇬🇦tiktok #tiktokgabon🇬🇦 #gabon🇬🇦 #gabonese🇬🇦🇬🇦 #ceo #partydemocraticofgabon #politics #newsoftheday #ctri #oliguinguema ♬ original sound - Mister Lephenix

Confidently, during a particularly tense live, Nazih insulted MP Marcel Libama, present as a guest in the Princesse de Souba live, by calling him a "dog". This insult deeply shocked a large part of the audience, reminding many of another notable incident involving Sydney Moussada and his famous controversial t-shirt. The parallel between these two cases reinforced the idea that debates on TikTok sometimes take a turn as violent as in the political world, thus contributing to fueling the growing polarization within the country.

@xnazihx #gabon🇬🇦 #tiktokgabon🇬🇦tiktok #pourvoustous #francetiktok ♬ original sound - NAZIH

But the most shocking remains his attack on Tata Huguette. Nazih reveals the existence of an escort site in Quebec where Tata Huguette, known for her activism, appears under the pseudonym “Taratata”. He divulges the details of his paid services, triggering an avalanche of mockery on TikTok. Since then, the comments “Taratata, give me the massage” flood each intervention of Tata Huguette, in reference to her escort pseudonym. Tata Huguette, whose targets of his publications and attacks on Facebook strangely coincide with the people who hinder the services of the president of the transition, Brice Oligui Nguema.

@kongossagabon #gabondabord🇬🇦🇬🇦🇬🇦 #gabontiktok🇬🇦 #fanggabon🇬🇦 #gabondabord🇬🇦🇬🇦🇬🇦 #gabon🇬🇦 #gabon🇬🇦 ♬ original sound - Kongoss has

Between polarization and diversion: a reflection of Gabonese society

This clash between TikTokers goes far beyond simple personal rivalries. With an audience that surpasses that of Gabonese television among young people, TikTok has now established itself as a real space for debate, but also for polarization. Young people, in the majority, are captivated by these online quarrels, while substantive issues, such as the referendum or the political transition, often fall by the wayside.

This uproar seems to be playing into everyone's hands: TikTokers, whose audiences are exploding thanks to these public clashes, and the transitional government, which is benefiting from a welcome diversion, thus moving away from essential debates. But deep down, who is really pulling the strings of this "idiocracy" where influencers and political subjects intermingle on TikTok? Is the DGSS playing a role in the shadows, orchestrating these puppets to serve its own interests?