• Gabon adopted a draft ordinance to regulate digital archiving during a cabinet meeting on January 29.
• The framework aims to govern electronic records, public archives, and digital service providers.
• Gabon scores well on cybersecurity legislation but shows major weaknesses in technical capacity.

The Gabonese government now wants to establish a legal framework for digital archiving in the country. The cabinet adopted a draft ordinance on January 29, during a Council of Ministers meeting.

According to the authorities, the initiative fits into the national archiving policy and sets principles and rules for the creation, preservation, management, and use of electronic and digital documents. The framework also regulates companies that provide digitization and electronic archiving services.

The Ministry of Digital Economy said the measure enables the creation, preservation, and security of administrative documents in digital form. The ministry added that the framework improves the organization and protection of state archives. The ministry also said the framework regulates providers that digitize and store electronic records.

This initiative aligns with Gabon’s broader digital transformation agenda. The authorities want to integrate digital technology across all sectors of the economy. The government expects digital archiving to improve efficiency, reduce data loss, and increase transparency, particularly in public administration.

Since July 2025, the government has explored local solutions for electronic document management. The authorities have engaged companies such as CompanyViene and ST Digital. In early December, the government organized a workshop that brought together sector stakeholders. The workshop aimed to lay the foundations for an integrated and secure system to archive judicial records and improve their processing and public access.

However, digital archiving raises security concerns amid rising cyberattacks and cybercrime in Africa. The International Telecommunication Union ranked Gabon among the least advanced countries in cybersecurity in its 2024 Global Security Index. The ITU said Gabon established a favorable legal framework for cybersecurity and awarded the country a maximum score of 20 out of 20 in that category. However, the ITU identified gaps in organization, capacity building, cooperation, and technical measures. The country scored 0 out of 20 in those areas.

This article was initially published in French by Isaac K. Kassouwi

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de BERRY QUENUM