Law 027/2023 on cybersecurity and cybercrime

Summary

Gabon's framework law on cybersecurity, which aims to organise the security of information systems, build trust in the use of ICT and define and punish computer offences. It requires the government to adopt a national cybersecurity strategy by decree and gives a competent administrative authority responsibility for protecting critical infrastructure and services: operators must identify sensitive systems, have protection plans approved by the authority and certified, and cooperate in sharing information on threats and incidents. Public bodies must classify data and systems, appoint a security officer and report every incident to the authority; sensitive data must be hosted in the country. Network operators and information system operators must take security measures, retain connection and traffic data for ten years and undergo periodic audits. The law also regulates cryptology, imposes heavy penalties for offences against systems and data and for illegal content, and governs investigations and international cooperation.

Information

Jurisdiction

Gabon

Issuing body

Parlement de la République gabonaise

Type

Law

Available languages

French

Topics

• Governance and coordination
• Critical infrastructure
• Incident reporting
• Digital public administration
• Cybercrime and criminal law
• Telecommunications

Notes

Promulgated in Libreville on 12 July 2023 (promulgation decree No. 168/PR of the same day) and published in Journal officiel No. 218 bis of 15 July 2023; the heading of the Journal officiel page gives the date as 11 July. Those within its scope had six months from entry into force to comply. The national cybersecurity strategy provided for by the law does not yet appear to have been adopted. The law follows Ordinance No. 15/PR/2018 of 23 February 2018 on the same subject and repeals earlier conflicting provisions.

Obligations compared

Cyber incident reporting Gabon

Parlement de la République gabonaise. (2023). Loi n° 027/2023 portant règlementation de la cybersécurité et de la lutte contre la cybercriminalité en République Gabonaise (Loi n° 027/2023). https://www.journal-officiel.ga/20087-027-2023-/

Parlement de la République gabonaise. "Loi n° 027/2023 portant règlementation de la cybersécurité et de la lutte contre la cybercriminalité en République Gabonaise." 12 July 2023. https://www.journal-officiel.ga/20087-027-2023-/.

@misc{ga_loi_027_2023_cybersecurite_cybercriminalite,
  author       = {{Parlement de la République gabonaise}},
  title        = {{Loi n° 027/2023 portant règlementation de la cybersécurité et de la lutte contre la cybercriminalité en République Gabonaise}},
  year         = {2023},
  note         = {Loi n° 027/2023},
  url          = {https://www.journal-officiel.ga/20087-027-2023-/},
  urldate      = {2026-11-02}
}