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Libreville International Cinema and Freedom Festival announces third edition for June 22-28, 2026
via Gabon Review3 min read
The third edition of the Libreville International Cinema and Freedom Festival is scheduled to take place from June 22 to 28, 2026, in Libreville. The announcement was made by event coordinator Noël Bertrand Boundzanga during a press conference on June 17, 2026. This year's festival, themed "Unsanitary Conditions," aims to use cinema as a platform for reflection and creation, promoting civic values, human rights, good governance, and freedom of expression. The program includes film screenings, training workshops, and master classes. Two days of screenings will be held at the French Institute, with open-air screenings every evening at 6:30 PM at the Baie des Rois. The festival has strengthened its partnership with the Libreville City Hall, which will award prizes to winners of short film and public speaking competitions to encourage youth creativity and engagement with civic issues. Master classes will feature industry professionals such as Ivorian director Franck Vlehi, who will lead a session on "Directing and Producing a Successful Series," and German professional editor Jana Stallein, who will discuss "Film Editing." A total of 13 films have been selected for this edition, including several Gabonese productions like "Michel duparadis" by Stéphane Kassa and "Mindoumbe" by Matamba Kombila. The selection also includes international films from Benin, South Africa, Russia, Brazil, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burkina Faso, Senegal, and France. The opening and closing films
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Gabon's Minister of Social Affairs, Armande Longo épouse Moulengui, presented a bill to the Senate on June 17, 2026, aiming to establish a legal framework for mutual health organizations. This initiative seeks to regulate the creation, organization, and operation of these complementary social protection bodies across the country. The proposed law is designed to strengthen health coverage for the population, consolidate social cohesion, and better protect workers in the public, parapublic, private, and informal sectors against precariousness. The minister stated that the bill addresses a legal void and will complement existing social protection measures, particularly the coverage provided by the National Health Insurance and Social Guarantee Fund CNAMGS. Mutuals, also known as complementary health insurance, are intended to cover the remaining health expenses not covered by CNAMGS, which typically handles 80% to 90% of insured health costs. The reform aims to structure the mutual sector and improve access to more comprehensive health coverage for the population.
A five-day workshop commenced on June 15, 2026, in Libreville, aimed at enhancing national capabilities in identifying, documenting, and safeguarding intangible cultural heritage. The event, initiated by UNESCO in partnership with the government and international partners, is part of UNESCO's "Priority Africa" strategy. Experts and institutional stakeholders gathered to discuss mechanisms for preserving living heritage. Supported by the International Training Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region, the session promotes international cooperation to strengthen policies for protecting and promoting living heritage in Africa. The opening ceremony was attended by Paul Ulrich Kessany, Minister of Youth, Sports, Cultural Outreach and Arts; Zhou Ping, Chinese Ambassador to Gabon; and Marco Patricio Zambrano Restrepo, UNESCO representative in Gabon. Ambassador Zhou Ping emphasized that intangible cultural heritage is the living memory of peoples and that this training aligns with the China-Africa People-to-People Exchange Year. Minister Kessany highlighted the inscription of Mvet Oyeng traditional music on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, underscoring the richness of Gabonese cultural heritage. The workshop includes theoretical training, case studies, and practical field exercises led by UNESCO-accredited trainers, with the goal of equipping participants with technical tools to improve the identification, documen
Must ReadLawyers for former Prime Minister and president of Ensemble pour le Gabon EPG, Alain-Claude Bilie-By-Nze, provided a new analysis on June 17, 2026, regarding the judicial proceedings against their client, who is detained in Libreville Central Prison. Represented by Me Thierry Nguia, the defense contested the nature of the case, which involves 5 million CFA francs, arguing it is not a private dispute but a public and political matter. They claim the procedure aims to remove Bilie-By-Nze from public debate and compromise his eligibility for future office. The lawyers highlighted that the events leading to the proceedings date back to 2008, suggesting the statute of limitations has expired. Me Nguia emphasized the public nature of the case, stating the 5 million CFA francs were advanced for the organization of the Fête des cultures, an event initiated by the Ministry of Culture, not a personal or family matter. The defense also pointed out that Bilie-By-Nze has not been heard by the investigating judge several weeks after his detention, which they consider a procedural irregularity. They have appealed to the competent courts and called for the immediate release of the former Prime Minister, asserting that the proceedings are politically motivated and intended to prevent his future eligibility.