Financial Crime World

GABON: A NATION FACING CYBERSECURITY AND FINANCIAL CRIME THREATS

Gabon, a small country in Central Africa with a population of around 1.6 million people, has been identified as a potential hub for cybercrime and financial fraud. Despite having made some efforts to address these issues, the nation still lacks a robust cybersecurity framework and infrastructure.

Cybersecurity

  • Gabon’s legal framework is limited, with no specific legislation on cybersecurity in place.
  • The country has enacted draft laws on both cybercrime and cybersecurity, but they are yet to be implemented.
  • There is no officially recognized national CIRT (Computer Emergency Response Team), although ITU conducted a CIRT assessment for Gabon in 2010.

The government has established an information system security policy, managed by the National Agency for Digital Infrastructure and Frequencies (ANINF). However:

  • The country lacks certified public sector professionals and agencies under internationally recognized certification programs in cybersecurity.
  • There is no officially recognized national CIRT to respond to cyber threats and incidents.

Capacity Building

Gabon’s capacity to address cybercrime is hampered by a lack of:

  • Research and development programs on cybersecurity standards, best practices, and guidelines.
  • Officially recognized educational or professional training programs for promoting cybersecurity awareness among the general public.
  • Certification of professionals in cybersecurity.
  • Awareness about cybersecurity courses in higher education.

Cooperation

Gabon has limited international cooperation on cybersecurity issues, although:

  • It is a member of the ITU-IMPACT initiative and has access to relevant cybersecurity services.
  • The country benefits from the EU/ITU co-funded project “Support for Harmonization of the ICT Policies in Sub-Saharan Africa”.

Child Online Protection

Gabon’s efforts to protect children online are limited, with:

  • No officially recognized agency dedicated to child online protection.
  • No reporting mechanism for incidents related to child online protection.
  • No programs to promote cybersecurity awareness among children.

Conclusion

The Gabonese government must take immediate action to address these pressing issues and strengthen its cybersecurity infrastructure, institutions, and laws to prevent and respond to cybercrime and financial fraud threats.