Gabon’s Efforts to Combat Organized Crime
Bilateral Engagements and Domestic Efforts
Gabon is taking steps to address organized crime through bilateral engagements with other countries and regional treaties. However, the country faces challenges in compliance and implementation of relevant laws.
- Bilateral Engagements: Gabon has entered into agreements with other countries to combat forest and wildlife crimes, as well as regional treaties to combat counterfeit pharmaceuticals.
- Domestic Efforts: The government has made efforts to combat small arms and light weapons through a national commission responsible for coordinating actions of national authorities.
Challenges in the Criminal Justice System
The criminal justice system in Gabon faces significant challenges in addressing organized crime. There are no specialized judiciary units tasked with countering organized crime, and the judiciary is not trusted due to lack of separation of powers and complicity among judicial staff.
- Lack of Specialized Judiciary Units: There are no specialized judiciary units specifically aimed at countering organized crime.
- Judicial Corruption: Judges allegedly take bribes from traffickers to delay or dismiss cases, undermining trust in the judiciary.
Challenges in Law Enforcement
Similar to the judiciary, there are no specialized law enforcement units tasked with countering organized crime. However, security forces receive training to fight against specific activities such as illegal exploitation of resources and drug trafficking.
- Lack of Specialized Law Enforcement Units: There are no specialized law enforcement units tasked with countering organized crime.
- Training for Specific Activities: Security forces receive training to fight against specific activities such as illegal exploitation of resources and drug trafficking.
Challenges in the Economic Environment
Gabon has mechanisms to curb money laundering but lacks capacity to investigate and prosecute cases effectively. Anti-corruption initiatives are perceived as political tools, and there is no evidence suggesting improvement in institutional capacities to fight money laundering.
- Mechanisms for Money Laundering: Gabon has mechanisms to curb money laundering.
- Lack of Capacity to Investigate and Prosecute: The country lacks capacity to investigate and prosecute cases effectively.
- Perceived Anti-Corruption Initiatives: Anti-corruption initiatives are perceived as political tools.
Role of Civil Society
Civil society organizations play a role in the response to organized crime, especially through operation of shelters for victims of human trafficking. National authorities have increased efforts to identify and protect victims of human trafficking.
- Role of Civil Society Organizations: Civil society organizations operate shelters for victims of human trafficking.
- Increased Efforts to Identify and Protect Victims: National authorities have increased efforts to identify and protect victims of human trafficking.
Challenges in the Media Landscape
The erosion of limited press freedom has continued in the country, with journalists self-censoring to avoid legal repercussions and intimidation.
- Erosion of Press Freedom: The erosion of limited press freedom has continued in the country.
- Self-Censorship by Journalists: Journalists self-censor to avoid legal repercussions and intimidation.