Financial Crime World

Gabon’s Struggle Against Organized Crime: Cooperation International, Weaknesses Domestic

Despite being a signatory to several international treaties related to organized crime, Gabon has faced challenges in combating this issue on its domestic front.

International Cooperation

Gabon has entered into bilateral agreements with neighboring nations and regional organizations to address issues such as forest and wildlife crimes. Additionally, public officials have participated in international events aimed at fostering regional collaboration to combat organized crime.

Domestic Challenges

However, a closer look at Gabon’s judicial system reveals significant weaknesses:

  • Lack of Specialized Judiciary Units: There are no specialized judiciary units dedicated to combating organized crime.
  • Judicial Corruption: Judges have been accused of taking bribes from traffickers, and limited professional capacity has resulted in inadequate investigations into human trafficking cases.

Law Enforcement

The country also lacks specialized law enforcement units tasked with countering organized crime. However:

  • Security Forces Training: Security forces have received training to combat specific activities such as illegal resource exploitation and drug trafficking.
  • Porous Borders: Gabon’s porous borders and unguarded beaches have made it vulnerable to trafficking activities.

Economic Front

On the economic front, Gabon has established mechanisms to curb money laundering, including a Financial Intelligence Unit. However:

  • Limited Capacity: These mechanisms lack the capacity to effectively investigate and prosecute money laundering cases.
  • Corruption and Bureaucracy: Corruption, bureaucracy, and a lack of transparency have limited business freedom in the country.

Civil Society

Civil society organizations play a crucial role in combating organized crime in Gabon:

  • NGO Shelters: Two state-funded NGO shelters provide services to homeless and orphaned children at risk of trafficking.
  • Rehabilitation Programs: However, there is a lack of information on rehabilitation programs for drug users, indicating their general absence.

Awareness Campaigns

The government has taken steps to prevent certain criminal activities through awareness campaigns. However:

  • Decreased Efforts: Prevention efforts related to human trafficking have decreased since the country failed to sign its anti-trafficking national action plan into law.

Media Landscape

The media landscape in Gabon is also a concern, with limited press freedom continuing to erode:

  • Intimidation and Restrictions: Journalists and editors are intimidated by law enforcement and subject to extreme restrictions.
  • Critical Reporting: Despite these challenges, they remain critical of the government and continue to report on organized crime issues.

Conclusion

Overall, while Gabon has made efforts to cooperate internationally on organized crime, it faces significant domestic challenges in combating this issue. Addressing these weaknesses will be crucial for the country’s efforts to combat organized crime effectively.