Financial Crime World

The State of Organized Crime in Gabon

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Overview of Gabon’s Efforts to Combat Organized Crime

Gabon, a country in Central Africa with a population of approximately 2.3 million people, has a GDP per capita of around $10,000 and a relatively high level of economic development.

Key Points from the Summary

  • Economic Development: Gabon has a relatively high level of economic development.
  • Population: The country has a population of approximately 2.3 million people.

Criminal Justice and Security

Gabon’s efforts to combat organized crime are hampered by corruption, limited capacity, and a lack of institutional reform.

Key Points

  • There are no specialized judiciary units that specifically aim to counter organized crime in Gabon.
  • Judges are often seen as complicit with traffickers, taking bribes to delay or dismiss cases.
  • Limited professional capacity results in prosecutorial judges not always investigating human trafficking cases.
  • The penitentiary system is plagued by long pre-trial detentions and a disregard for legal protections and due process.

Territorial Integrity

Gabon has statutory free movement of persons and goods with its neighboring countries under the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa’s free movement regulations.

Key Points

  • Free Movement: Gabon has statutory free movement of persons and goods with its neighboring countries.
  • However, the country has closed its borders in times of trouble, including during the pandemic.
  • The border with Cameroon is well policed but vulnerable to corruption by customs officers on both sides.

Economic and Financial Environment

Gabon has relevant mechanisms and regulatory frameworks established to curb money laundering, such as the Financial Intelligence Unit.

Key Points

  • Money Laundering: Gabon has relevant mechanisms and regulatory frameworks established to curb money laundering.
  • However, these mechanisms lack capacity to investigate and prosecute money laundering cases effectively.
  • Anti-corruption initiatives are often perceived as a tool for the executive branch to settle scores with dissenting voices in the government or opposition.

Civil Society and Social Protection

There are two state-funded NGO shelters offering medical, legal, housing, and other services to homeless and orphaned children who are most at risk of trafficking.

Key Points

  • NGO Shelters: There are two state-funded NGO shelters offering medical, legal, housing, and other services to homeless and orphaned children.
  • National authorities have increased efforts to identify and protect victims of human trafficking in the country.
  • However, there is a lack of information on rehabilitation programs for drug abuse in Gabon.

Conclusion

Overall, Gabon has made some efforts to combat organized crime, but these efforts are often hampered by corruption, limited capacity, and a lack of institutional reform. The country’s judicial system is weak, and the penitentiary system is plagued by long pre-trial detentions and disregard for legal protections and due process. While civil society organizations play a role in the response to organized crime, the media landscape is restricted, and journalists are intimidated by law enforcement operating in the country.