On 19 January 2026, the activist Bob Mengome Ferland was imprisoned at Libreville Central Prison for disturbing public order. From the moment he was taken into custody, he was deprived of several fundamental rights, including the right to visits and access to medical care. Faced with this situation, deemed contrary to humanitarian principles and fundamental freedoms, civil society organisations have stepped up to raise public awareness; SOS Prisonnier, which campaigns for prisoners’ rights, has mobilised to challenge the prison authorities.
Following a visit to the prison 29 March 2026 and through a structured advocacy campaign, the CSO denounced the conditions of detention deemed degrading – which had already been highlighted by trade unionist Marcel Libama – and emphasised the need to ensure respect for human rights within the prison system. Following this initiative, the prison authorities responded favourably to the requests made: Bob Mengome regained his visiting rights and was able to receive medical treatment. This development marks a tangible improvement in his prison conditions and illustrates the positive impact of public advocacy in protecting prisoners’ fundamental rights.