The Gabonese President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema has decided to end the mandate of Frenchman Jean-Charles Solon as head of the SILAM, the Presidency’s communications interception system and replace him with Gabonese General Bernard Gnamankala.
The move reflects a stated commitment to strengthening national sovereignty in the intelligence domain.
Having led the strategic unit for 13 years, Jean-Charles Solon oversaw a system responsible for telephone surveillance and the interception of electronic communications within the presidency.
On March 10, 2026, the Head of State formally notified him that his assignment was ending as part of a broader reorganisation of the security apparatus, the Gabonese Press Agency (AGP) reported.
To succeed him, the president appointed General Bernard Gnamankala, a senior police officer and former Director General of the Directorate General of Documentation and Immigration (DGDI).
A graduate of the FBI National Academy with extensive experience in intelligence services, he now takes charge of one of the country’s most sensitive technological assets.
According to authorities, the change reflects a desire to strengthen national oversight of surveillance tools, while maintaining security cooperation with France and diversifying Gabon’s strategic partnerships, notably with the United Arab Emirates.
For more than a decade, the SILAM had been run by Jean-Charles Solon, a former technical official with France’s DGSE and a symbol of the longstanding intelligence cooperation between Paris and Libreville.
The appointment of a Gabonese national marks a significant step toward domestic control over the country’s interception capabilities.
DM/te/lb/gik/APA