Since the start of the transition, Gabon has undertaken significant reforms aimed at strengthening access to information and press freedom, essential pillars of democracy. Under the impetus of the current Minister of Communication and Media, the Gabonese government is resolutely committed to encouraging a more open, transparent, modern and inclusive media environment.

Gabon is preparing for the presidential election on April 12 2025. The institutions in charge of organising it are doing their utmost to ensure the success of this event, which is under the spotlight of national and international observers, in a context where access to reliable and verified information remains a major challenge for many households.

“At the time of the liberation coup, before the transition, the national audiovisual coverage rate, contrary to what one might have thought, was limited to only 22% of the population, leaving a large part of the population without access to information via radio and television.”

Laurence NDONG, Minister for Communication and Media – Gabon

According to the Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index 2024, Gabon ranked 56th. The authorities are stepping up investment to guarantee the right to information for all.

“In Gabon today, access to information is a constitutional right. Article fourteen states that the State guarantees citizens access to information, so we are also working to ensure that we finally have a law on access to information, based on this constitutional law. And that obviously involves restructuring the Gabonese Press Agency, which, in its role as an agent, is responsible for sourcing information, checking it and making it available to the rest of the media.”

Laurence NDONG, Minister for Communication and Media – Gabon

By facilitating access to information and encouraging an independent press, Gabon’s transition is part of a democratisation process in which freedom of expression is seen as a fundamental lever for good governance.