Gabon / Africa

  
Libreville, Gabon, is seen on January 16, 2017. The country's media regulator recently suspended two newspapers over defamation claims. (Reuters/Mike Hutchings)

Gabon media regulator suspends two newspapers over defamation claims

Goma, Congo, May 17, 2019 — Gabon’s media regulator should immediately lift its suspensions of the tri-weekly newspaper L’Aube and the weekly Echos du Nord, and give journalists the freedom to cover issues of public interest, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Gabonese soldiers stand in front of the headquarters of the national broadcaster in Libreville on January 7, 2019, after a failed coup. Gabon shut down the internet and broadcasting services following the coup attempt. (AFP/Steve Jordan)

Gabon shuts down the internet and broadcasting services following coup attempt

Abidjan, January 7, 2019–Gabon’s government on Monday morning shut down the internet and broadcasting services following an attempted coup against President Ali Bongo, according to digital rights groups Netblocks, and Internet Without Borders, news reports, and local journalists and civil society organizations with whom the Committee to Protect Journalists spoke.

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Gabonese radio journalist, union leader convicted of defamation

An appeals court in Gabon on July 26, 2017, upheld a lower court’s conviction of Gildas Biviga, a journalist for Radio Gabon, on defamation charges, but reduced his sentence to time served and ordered his release, according to media reports.

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Gabon newspaper raided, deputy editor alleges torture

On November 3, 2016, officers from Gabon’s domestic intelligence agency, the Directorate of Documentation and Immigration (DGDI, by its French acronym), armed with semi-automatic weapons, raided the office of the weekly newspaper Echos du Nord in the capital, Libreville, and arrested nine journalists and four other staff members, according to press reports.

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Gabon suspends 3 newspapers

Gabon’s state-run media regulatory agency, the National Communications Council, suspended three newspapers on May 29, 2013, according to news reports. 

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Gabon opposition TV station reports attack

On September 5, 2012, the studios of TV+, a private television station in the capital, Libreville, owned by André Mba Obame, the country’s main opposition leader, were attacked by six unknown assailants, Agence France-Presse quoted Editor-in-Chief Ismaël Obiang Nze as saying. In the attack around 3 a.m. local time, a security guard was hit on the…

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Clashes broke out in Gabon's capital Libreville on Wednesday when police broke up a protest in support of the country's main opposition leader. (AFP/Xavier Bourgois)

In Gabon, gunmen burn opposition TV station’s transmitter

Lagos, Nigeria, August 16, 2012–Unidentified gunmen today stormed a private television station owned by Gabon’s main opposition leader and burned down its transmitters, according to local journalists and news reports. It was the second armed attack on the broadcaster since 2009.

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Two newspapers banned in Gabon are critical of President Ali Bongo. (Reuters/Mal Langsdon)

Gabon suspends 2 newspapers critical of government

New York, August 6, 2012–The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns Friday’s decision by Gabon’s state-run media regulator to suspend two private newspapers for six months over criticism of top officials.  In a press statement obtained by CPJ, the National Communications Council accused weeklies Ezombolo and La Une of disrespecting public institutions “and the personalities that…

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Le Mbandja carried this coverage of the presidential jet scandal. (CPJ)

Gabon journalists summoned over critical articles

New York, March 20, 2012–The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Gabon’s authorities to drop legal proceedings against six journalists in connection with articles raising questions about use of a presidential plane. Two of the journalists have fled the country fearing arrest after being summoned by police for interrogation.

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Opposition leader André Mba Obame addressed the nation Sunday via his broadcaster TV+. (CPJ)

Two Gabon outlets suspended for opposition coverage

New York, January 5, 2012–The government of Gabon, led by President Ali Bongo, on Tuesday imposed suspensions on a TV station and a newspaper for coverage of opposition leader André Mba Obame, according to local journalists and news reports.

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