Gabon urged to prioritize torture prevention in political reforms by OMCT and civil society
via Gabon Review3 min read
The World Organisation Against Torture OMCT and several civil society organizations, including SOS Prisonniers Gabon SPG, have issued a report highlighting the persistence of torture and ill-treatment in Gabonese detention facilities. Published on April 21, 2026, during the 84th session of the United Nations Committee Against Torture, the report urges Gabonese authorities to make torture prevention a central priority in ongoing political reforms. The organizations, which also include the Centre for Study and Support for Local Development and the Faith, Culture and Education Network, argue that current institutional transformations offer a crucial opportunity to strengthen the rule of law and align Gabon with its international commitments, particularly the Convention Against Torture. The report details recurring allegations of torture and ill-treatment in prisons, police stations, and security service detention centers, citing testimonies of beatings, prolonged incommunicado detention, and pressure to extract confessions. These abuses are reportedly facilitated by insufficient procedural guarantees, such as limited access to lawyers and inadequate judicial oversight, as well as the existence of unofficial or poorly regulated detention sites. The report also revisits the post-electoral violence of August 2016, accusing security forces of excessive force and mass arrests, and criticizes the lack of independent investigations, which fosters impunity. Concerns are also raised abou
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Gabon's Ministry of Interior, Security, and Decentralization will initiate a reform of the legal framework governing religious organizations. Minister Adrien Nguema Mba announced on July 18 that an information meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, in Libreville, to develop a preliminary draft law concerning religious associations. This meeting marks the official launch of consultations with key stakeholders in the sector, aiming to provide the country with a text that better organizes the functioning of religious structures and adapts their legal framework to current realities. The initiative reflects the Gabonese authorities' desire to structure a growing sector while strengthening dialogue with relevant actors. The working session, scheduled for 10 AM at the Ministry of Economy's auditorium, will bring together leaders of religious denominations, federations, confederations, independent churches, religious associations, and legally recognized traditional chiefdoms. Each organization is requested to be represented by two duly mandated individuals. The authorities intend to open a dialogue with representatives of religious organizations before finalizing the text, with the objective of gathering their observations and fostering a common understanding of the proposed orientations for this bill. The ministry emphasized the importance of this meeting for the success of the process, stating that "given the importance of the items on the agenda, everyone's presence is hi
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