Gabon’s Struggle Against Organized Crime: Cooperation at International Level, Challenges on Domestic Front

Combating Organized Crime: Progress and Challenges

YAOUNDE, Gabon - Gabon has made significant strides in combating organized crime at the international level, signing numerous treaties and engaging in bilateral agreements to address forest and wildlife crimes. However, despite these efforts, the country still faces challenges in its domestic fight against organized crime.

Judicial System Lacks Specialized Units

• According to a recent report, Gabon’s judicial system lacks specialized units dedicated to countering organized crime.
• Judges often take bribes from traffickers to delay or dismiss cases.
• The lack of de facto separation of powers and limited professional capacity hinders effective investigations and prosecutions.

Law Enforcement Agencies Face Challenges

• Despite receiving training to combat specific crimes such as drug trafficking, the absence of specialized units dedicated to organized crime hampers efforts to tackle this issue effectively.
• Gabon’s porous borders and unguarded beaches facilitate human trafficking and other illicit activities.
• The country’s border with Cameroon is particularly vulnerable to corruption by customs officers on both sides.

Economic Challenges

• Gabon has mechanisms in place to combat money laundering, but these mechanisms lack the capacity to effectively investigate and prosecute cases.
• Corruption, bureaucracy, and a lack of transparency hinder business freedom and limit potential investments.
• Despite efforts to attract foreign investment, corruption remains a significant obstacle.

Civil Society Organizations Play a Key Role

• Civil society organizations operate shelters for human trafficking victims and work closely with the government to combat wildlife trafficking and illegal fishing.
• These organizations play an important role in the fight against organized crime, but their efforts are often hindered by limited resources and lack of support from the government.

Media Landscape Remains Restrictive

• The media landscape in Gabon remains restrictive, with limited press freedom and intimidation by law enforcement.
• Journalists and editors are often forced to self-censor to avoid legal repercussions and intimidation.

Government Efforts to Improve Response to Organized Crime

• The Gabonese government has established a national commission to combat the circulation and trafficking of small arms and light weapons.
• This initiative is an important step towards improving the country’s response to organized crime, but more needs to be done to address internal challenges.

Conclusion

As Gabon continues to navigate its domestic fight against organized crime, it is clear that cooperation with international institutions and civil society organizations will be crucial in achieving success. However, until the country addresses its internal challenges, progress will likely remain limited.