Media assets

Television: RTG1, RTG2

Radio: Radio Gabon chain

State Media Matrix Typology

State-Controlled (SC)

Ownership and governance

RTG operates under the authority of the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy, which holds full responsibility for appointing the broadcaster’s senior management, including the Director General. The ministry also supervises staff contracts and has final say in all major operational decisions, leaving little room for independent institutional governance.

Source of funding and budget

RTG is primarily funded through allocations from the national government. While it does collect limited revenue from advertising, media observers confirm that public subsidies remain the dominant source of financial support. No official figures regarding RTG’s annual budget have been made publicly available, and the broadcaster does not publish financial reports or audited statements.

Editorial independence

Editorially, RTG is widely perceived as a tightly controlled arm of the executive. Journalists and media analysts covering Gabon report that the broadcaster’s news coverage is heavily skewed in favor of the presidency. News bulletins routinely open with segments lauding the president, often featuring ceremonial events or congratulatory messages.

There are no statutory protections, independent oversight bodies, or internal safeguards in place to guarantee editorial independence. As a result, RTG remains an instrument of state messaging rather than an autonomous public service broadcaster.

June 2025

Media assets

Television: Gabon TV

State Media Matrix Typology

State-Controlled (SC)

Ownership and governance

Established as a public commercial institution (EPIC), Gabon 24 is formally autonomous but in practice tightly controlled by the Presidency. A decree issued in 2018 transferred governance of the channel from Gabon Télévision to the Office of the President. Its management board and senior executives are appointed by presidential decree, bypassing parliamentary or independent oversight.

Source of funding and budget

The channel is funded primarily through public funds allocated by the Presidency, with supplemental revenue from advertising. As with other state-aligned media, its financial details are not made public. Despite its EPIC status, Gabon 24 does not publish budgetary reports or performance data.

Editorial independence

Gabon 24 serves as a platform for official government messaging, with programming that prioritizes coverage of the presidency, official visits, and ministerial activities. While it offers more polished production than traditional state media, its editorial line mirrors that of RTG. No statute or independent mechanism guarantees its editorial independence.

June 2025

Media assets

News agency: Agence Gabonaise de Presse

Print: Gabon Matin

State Media Matrix Typology

State-Controlled (SC)

Ownership and governance

AGP operates under the direct supervision of the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy, which holds full authority over staff appointments and administrative oversight. The agency’s leadership appointments have historically followed a revolving door pattern involving individuals from within the state apparatus.

In 2019, Jean Robert Elmut Moutsinga Boulingui—a former head of Radio Gabon and seasoned government insider—was appointed as provisional administrator of AGP and Gabon Matin by then Minister Guy Maixent Mamiaka. In 2022, he was succeeded by Sébastien Ntoutoum Bekale, another political appointee with experience in various government departments. Following Bekale’s diplomatic appointment as ambassador to Equatorial Guinea in March 2023, Nick Jocelyn Blampain Fouba was named Chief Executive Officer of AGP.

These successive appointments, all drawn from state institutions, underscore the close entanglement between AGP and the executive branch.

A 2025 profile from UNA-OIC (a coalition of Islamic news agencies) notes that Ghislain Ruffin Etoughet Nzuet took office as AGP’s Director General in October 2024. Under his leadership, the agency has undertaken modernization efforts, including improving working conditions in regional branches, upgrading the Port‑Gentil office, and organizing strategy workshops to enhance journalistic quality.

Source of funding and budget

AGP is wholly reliant on public funding. Over the past decade, the agency has faced chronic underfunding, delayed salary disbursements, and periodic financial instability. At its peak, AGP received an annual state subsidy of XAF 1.5 billion (approx. US$ 2.6 million). By 2016, this had dwindled to XAF 200 million (US$ 350,000), according to public records.

In 2023, the agency’s budget reportedly increased to XAF 697 million (US$ 1.17 million). Despite the uplift, AGP continued to operate at a deficit, highlighting structural funding shortfalls. Payment delays—sometimes up to ten months—further strained staff morale and operational capacity.

According to an Afropages announcement, AGP’s 2025 budget was set by the Board of Directors at XAF 855 million (~US$ 1.5 million). This figure indicates a notable revision from previous years and reflects late-2024 fiscal planning, but demonstrates ongoing financial support from authorities.

Editorial independence

AGP’s editorial agenda is closely aligned with the government’s narrative. While there are no formal directives mandating pro-government reporting, the agency’s output routinely echoes the messaging of the ruling elite. Journalists covering Gabon interviewed for this report describe AGP as deliberately minimalist in its coverage—publishing only what is deemed safe or officially sanctioned, in an effort to steer clear of controversy.

Tensions between editorial staff and management have risen in recent years. In September 2023, AGP employees staged a strike, citing lack of transparency over financial management and undue political interference in editorial decisions. The protest spotlighted the growing frustration within the agency over managerial opacity and top-down control.

To date, no statutory guarantees or independent oversight mechanisms exist to protect AGP’s editorial autonomy or assess its performance according to journalistic standards.

June 2025

Media assets

Publishing: L’Union

State Media Matrix Typology

State-Controlled (SC)

Ownership and governance

L’Union is published by Société de presse et d’édition du Gabon (Sonapresse), a company owned by the state and overseen by the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy. The appointment of senior editors and administrative staff is controlled by the government, typically involving individuals with ties to public institutions or former civil servants.

Source of funding and budget

The newspaper is funded through a mix of government subsidies, public advertising contracts, and sales revenue. However, over time, the financial reliance on state support has deepened as print circulation has declined. There is no public disclosure of its operating budget, and no independent audit of its funding has been published.

Editorial independence

L’Union lacks editorial autonomy. Its content routinely reflects the positions of the ruling administration, with prominent space dedicated to presidential activities, state functions, and government achievements. Critical or opposition voices are largely absent. No domestic law or independent oversight body has been identified to safeguard its editorial independence.

June 2025