Gabon’s media landscape faces renewed tension as the Organisation Patronale des Médias (OPAM) condemned the recent summons of Harold Leckat Igassela, Director of the online news platform Gabon Media Time, along with one of his contributors, Casimir Mapiya, by the Direction Générale des Recherches (DGR) of the national gendarmerie on September 3, 2025.
The summons, carried out by a judicial police officer, is reportedly linked to an ongoing criminal investigation into content published on Gabon Media Time.
OPAM highlighted that the proceedings overlap with a case already under review by the Haute Autorité de la Communication (HAC), initiated by Minister Laurence Ndong.
In a strongly worded statement, OPAM denounced the move as a “dangerous shift towards the criminalization of journalism.” The organisation emphasized that press offences have been decriminalized in Gabon since the enactment of Ordinance No. 00000012/PR/2018 on 23 February 2018, making any judicial summons over strictly editorial work unacceptable.
“Such actions contribute to a climate of institutionalized harassment aimed at weakening independent media, restricting freedom of expression, and silencing critical voices in the public sphere, in disregard of fundamental democratic principles,” OPAM said.
The association called on Gabonese authorities, regulatory institutions, international partners, and the wider journalistic community to remain vigilant and united in the face of what it described as a worrying erosion of press freedom.
OPAM also reaffirmed its full support for Harold Leckat Igassela, his editorial team, and all journalists subjected to professional pressure.
The organisation urged that any investigation related to journalistic content be strictly governed by the provisions of the Communication Code, safeguarding the public’s right to information, protecting sources, and upholding the independence of the press.
The statement concluded with a firm commitment to defend the dignity of media professionals, ensure editorial independence, and maintain the plurality of information—foundations essential to the democratic vitality of Gabon.
Observers warn that repeated targeting of media figures could undermine public trust in institutions and highlight the fragile state of press freedom in the country. OPAM’s alert underscores growing concerns over the balance between regulation and censorship in Gabon’s evolving media environment.
About The Author
