Gabon Struggles to Combat Organized Crime Despite Bilateral Engagements
Libreville, Gabon - Despite entering into bilateral agreements with other countries to address forest and wildlife crimes, as well as being a signatory to regional treaties combating counterfeit pharmaceuticals, Gabon continues to face significant challenges in combatting organized crime.
Judicial System: A Key Challenge
The country’s judicial system is particularly criticized for its lack of trustworthiness. Judges are alleged to take bribes from traffickers to delay or dismiss cases. The judiciary also lacks specialized units dedicated to countering organized crime, and limited professional capacity often results in prosecutorial judges failing to investigate human trafficking cases brought before them.
Security Forces: Limited Capacity
Security forces receive training to fight specific organized crime activities such as illegal resource exploitation and drug trafficking, but lack the strategic tools and units necessary to effectively share key information and combat organized crime. The country’s borders are also vulnerable to corruption, with customs officers on both sides of the border facilitating trafficking activities.
National Commission: A Step in the Right Direction
Despite efforts to create a national commission responsible for coordinating actions to combat the circulation and trafficking of small arms and light weapons, Gabon continues to struggle with implementing and enforcing relevant laws on the domestic front.
Economic and Financial Environment: Plagued by Corruption
The country’s economic and financial environment is also plagued by corruption. Mechanisms and regulatory frameworks established to curb money laundering lack the capacity to investigate and prosecute cases effectively. Anti-corruption initiatives are often seen as a political tool for the executive branch, rather than a genuine effort to combat corruption.
Civil Society Organizations: A Crucial Role
Civil society organizations play a crucial role in the response to organized crime in Gabon, operating shelters for human trafficking victims and working closely with the government to combat wildlife trafficking and illegal fishing. However, the erosion of press freedom continues to be a concern, with journalists and editors facing intimidation and restrictions from the media regulator.
Efforts to Address Organized Crime: A Start
Despite these challenges, Gabon has made some efforts to address organized crime, including increasing training for law enforcement officers and establishing the Criminal Intelligence Analysis Unit. However, more needs to be done to effectively combat this issue and protect its citizens from the threats posed by organized crime.