Gabon Fights Organized Crime, But Challenges Remain

Despite its efforts to combat organized crime, Gabon still faces significant challenges in this area. In this article, we will explore the country’s efforts to address forest and wildlife crimes, counterfeit pharmaceuticals, and corruption.

Efforts to Combat Organized Crime

Gabon has ratified several international treaties and engaged in bilateral agreements to address forest and wildlife crimes, as well as the production and trafficking of counterfeit pharmaceuticals. However, domestic laws are often weakly implemented, and corruption remains a major obstacle.

• The judiciary is not trusted due to a lack of separation of powers, and there have been reports of judges taking bribes from traffickers.
• Law enforcement lacks specialized units to tackle organized crime, although security forces do receive training on specific issues.

Border Control and Corruption

Gabon’s borders are also vulnerable to trafficking activities. The country often closes its borders in times of crisis or to curb illegal immigration. The border with Cameroon is particularly porous due to corruption among customs officials.

Economic and Financial Environment

Gabon has mechanisms in place to combat money laundering, but these lack capacity to investigate and prosecute cases effectively. Anti-corruption initiatives are often seen as political tools rather than genuine efforts to address graft.

• Civil society plays a crucial role in the response to organized crime, with NGOs providing services to human trafficking victims and working closely with the government on issues such as wildlife trafficking and illegal fishing.
• However, press freedom has continued to erode in recent years, with journalists and editors facing intimidation and self-censoring to avoid legal repercussions.

Progress and Future Efforts

Despite these challenges, Gabon is taking steps to improve its response to organized crime. The country has established a national commission to combat the circulation and trafficking of small arms and light weapons, and there have been efforts made to create strategic tools and units within law enforcement to fight organized crime.

• International partners can play an important role in supporting Gabon’s efforts by providing technical assistance and capacity building.
• By strengthening Gabon’s institutions and improving its ability to combat organized crime, international partners can help the country overcome these challenges.