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Alerts - Gabon

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Gabon

Journalists summoned over critical articles

Two of the journalists have fled the country fearing arrest after being summoned by police for interrogation.

Gabon

Two media outlets suspended for opposition coverage

The state-run National Communication Council announced on national public television the suspension of Obame-owned broadcaster TV+ for three months and the private weekly "Echos Du Nord" for two months.

Gabon

Managing editor released from prison

Jean-Yves Ntoutoume was released after paying the remaining balance of a fine.

Gabon

Editor arrested for not paying six-year-old fine

Jean-Yves Ntoutoume was arrested for not paying the entire amount of an excessive fine, in relation to a defamation case.

Gabon

Journalist given suspended prison sentence

A criminal court convicted Jonas Moulenda on charges of criminal defamation and gave him a suspended three-month prison sentence and a US$900 fine.

Gabon

Newspaper suspended for six months

"Ezombolo" newspaper was suspended for "persistently insulting the head of state."

Gabon

Newspaper editor and reporter summoned three times over libel suit

"There are absolutely no grounds for claiming that the article was libellous," said RSF.

Gabon

Communications council punishes nine media outlets

"Evidently, (the CNC) does not accept that members of government and the ruling party should attract criticism," said RSF.

Gabon

Journalist in hiding after security agents raid his home

The raid came after a series of reports in which the journalist challenged the official government figure of three deaths during post-election riots in Port-Gentil.

Gabon

Leading editor detained, interrogated for several hours

RSF deplores the climate of fear that authorities have created among the media by arresting Albert Yangari, the well-known editor of the national daily "L'Union".

Gabon

Media targeted in political violence and tension following disputed election results

RSF is extremely worried about attacks on the media since authorities announced the victory of Ali Bongo in recent presidential elections.

Gabon

Television station shut down during coverage of presidential election

JED notes that before and during the election, a number of restrictions were imposed on both national and international media outlets.

Gabon

RSF concerned about media restrictions in lead-up to presidential election

Communications Minister Laure Olga Gondjout tried to defuse tension by spelling out rules for journalists on voting day.

Gabon

Government imposes news blackout on President Bongo's health

RSF has written to communication minister Laure Olga Gondjout voicing concern about the suspension of two Gabonese newspapers and warnings issued to Radio France Internationale over its coverage of President Omar Bongo's health.

Gabon

Two journalists released provisionally, still face trial on "propaganda" charges

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders notes that Gaston Asseko, the technical director of radio Sainte-Marie, and the three leading civil society members held in the same case were released provisionally on 12 January 2009 as was a police officer who was arrested with them. "Tendance Gabon" editor Léon Dieudonné Kougou, who was arrested with Asseko on 30 December 2008, was released provisionally on 7 January.

Gabon

One journalist released, a second transferred to prison despite medical concerns

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is an 8 January 2009 CPJ press release:

Gabon

Two journalists detained for reporting on embezzlement charges against the president

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders is deeply disturbed by the detention of two journalists and three leading civil society members at the Libreville headquarters of the criminal investigation police. The five have been held for the past week - longer than the legal period for police custody - without any explanation being given. Other journalists have recently been questioned in connection with the case.

Gabon

Journalist who was beaten by president's men leaves hospital but still fears for his safety

(RSF/IFEX) - Journalist Habib Papy Boudendji, known as Habib Bilalou, of the satirical weekly "Le Nganga", left hospital on 10 December 2008 after treatment for serious injuries from a brutal beating by soldiers within the presidential palace overnight on 5-6 December. In one of his articles, carried by "Le Nganga" on 27 November, he pointed the finger at the head of state's eldest daughter and director of the presidential cabinet, Pascaline Bongo, in an alleged embezzlement case.

Gabon

Reporter for satirical weekly badly beaten by president's bodyguards

(RSF/IFEX) - Habib Papy Boubendji, also known as Habib Bibalou, an investigative journalist with the satirical weekly "Le Nganga", was badly beaten by soldiers inside the presidential compound in Libreville on the night of 5 December 2008, Reporters Without Borders has learned from several sources. He is now in intensive care in a military hospital near the capital where only his wife is allowed to visit him.

Gabon

Cameraman hospitalised following police beating for filming violence on protest organisers, film confiscated

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders condemns the beating which cameraman Claude Aba Mboula of privately-owned TV station Télé Africa received from police when he filmed police violence during a street protest against cost of living increases in Libreville on 25 April 2008.

Gabon

Newspaper suspended over report on president's wealth

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 12 March 2008 CPJ press release:

Gabon

Freelance journalist arrested after investigating corruption, his home searched and documents confiscated

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders calls on the Gabonese authorities to explain why Repé Kabamba, a Congolese freelance journalist, was arrested on 7 February 2008 by members of a government security unit known as B2 when he went to interview the head of the Office of Ports and Harbours (OPRAG), in Libreville, about allegations of embezzlement.

Gabon

Two newspapers suspended

(JED/IFEX) - On 8 October 2007, the National Communication Council (Conseil national de la communication, CNC), Gabon's media regulatory body, suspended two newspapers: "La Nation", a privately-owned bi-monthly based in the capital, Libreville, and "Le Gri-Gri International", a satirical, privately-owned bi-monthly published in Paris, but distributed in Gabon.

Gabon

Jailed journalist hospitalised, sentenced

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 1 August 2007 CPJ press release:

Gabon

Editorial critical of president lands publisher in prison

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 3 July 2007 CPJ press release:

Gabon

Critical tabloid suspended for three months

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 2 March 2007 CPJ press release:

Gabon

Journalist released after spending 20 days in jail

(JED/IFEX) - Norbert Ngoua Mezui, the founder and of the Libreville-based, privately-owned bi-monthly "Nku'u Le Messager", was released provisionally on 6 November 2006, following a Libreville Correctional Appeal Court ruling, which came as the journalist was serving the second last day of his prison sentence. The court scheduled a public hearing for 11 December, to examine the journalist's appeal.

Gabon

Journalist taken to prison three years after being sentenced

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders calls for the immediate release of Norbert Ngoua Mezui, founder-editor of the privately-owned weekly "Nku'u Le Message", and condemns the ploy which led to his arrest.

Gabon

Privately-owned weekly suspended

(JED/IFEX) - Journalist in Distress (JED), an independent and non-partisan organization for the defense and promotion of freedom of expression, and member of the alert network of the Alerts Network of the Central African Media Organization (OMAC), is outraged by the National Council of Communications' (CNC) suspension of the Libreville-based, privately-owned weekly, "L'Echo du Nord". Libreville is the capital city of the Republic of Gabon.

Gabon

Journalist violently beaten by police

"(RSF/IFEX) - The following is an abridged version of RSF's statement:

Gabon

ARTICLE 19 appeals to Gabonese president to guarantee freedom of expression

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - The following is a translation of a 30 November 2005 ARTICLE 19 letter to Gabonese President Omar Bongo Ondimba:

Gabon

Independent bimonthly allowed to publish again following 20-day suspension

(RSF/IFEX) - On 31 August 2005, a new issue of the independent bimonthly newspaper "Nku'u Le Messager" was published for the first time since it was suspended by the National Council for Communication (CNC) on 11 August.

Gabon

Media council orders independent newspaper suspended

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 10 August 2005 CPJ press release:

Gabon

News director of public broadcaster suspended

(JED/IFEX) - On 15 June 2004, Patrick Simangoye, news director at Gabonese Radio-Television's Channel 2 (Radiotélévision gabonaise, RTG2), a public broadcaster based in the capital, Libreville, was suspended by the station's management at the request of Communications Minister Medhy Teale.

Gabon

Journalist arrested and jailed in Libreville

(JED/IFEX) - Alfred Ngamba, a journalist with the bi-monthly newspaper "Le Nganga", was arrested and detained on 8 March 2004. He is currently incarcerated at the "Gros bouquet" prison in the Gabonese capital, Libreville. "Le Nganga" is published in the capital.

Gabon

CPJ calls for investigation into journalist's death

(CPJ/IFEX) - In a 23 December 2003 letter to President Omar Bongo, CPJ called for a thorough, independent, and immediate investigation into the death of Marco Boukoukou Boussaga, editor-in-chief of the privately owned bimonthly newspaper "L'Autre journal", based in the capital, Libreville.

Gabon

CPJ protests deteriorating state of press freedom

(CPJ/IFEX) - In a 29 September 2003 letter to President Omar Bongo, CPJ expressed deep concern over the deteriorating state of press freedom in Gabon. Recently, Gabonese authorities suspended two private newspapers and renewed the suspension of a third.

Gabon

Two recently-launched independent newspapers prevented from publishing

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF has voiced its concern about the deteriorating situation in Gabon, where the authorities continue to obstruct the publication of independent newspapers. The satirical bi-monthly "Sub-Version" was recently seized and four employees from the paper were detained at Libreville airport. The National Communications Council (Conseil national de la communication, CNC) also recently suspended a second paper, the bi-monthly "La Sagaie".

Gabon

National Communications Council suspends two private newspapers

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF is concerned about the recent measures taken by the National Communications Council (Conseil national de la Communication, CNC) against four private media outlets. During the week of 16 May 2003, the CNC decided to suspend the publication of two private newspapers, "Misamu" and "Le Temps". In addition, the publications "Jeunesse Action" and "l'Espoir" received official warnings from the council.

Gabon

Two private newspapers suspended for three months

Gabon

Satirical newspaper "Le Gri-Gri International" banned in Gabon

Gabon

Journalist arrested

Gabon

Newspaper suspended

Gabon

Political programmes banned on Radio Soleil

Gabon

Radio Soleil programmes jammed

Gabon

Three journalists sentenced to eight months' imprisonment for defamation

Gabon

Journalists sentenced; newspaper censored

Gabon

Private radio station suspended

Gabon

Newspapers "Le Bucheron" and "La Griffe" banned