Libreville’s mont-bouët market: can digital payments end extortion by officials?

The heartbeat of Libreville’s informal economy is also a hotspot for systemic extortion that plagues hundreds of traders daily. At Mont-Bouët—Gabon’s largest market—the issue of routine racketeering has resurfaced as the most pressing challenge facing Mayor Eugène Mba.

Beneath the vibrant colors of market stalls and the lively haggling of vendors lies a darker truth. Organized by the Gabonese Hustlers’ Union and the Development Solidarity NGO, a coalition of traders has gone public with allegations of an entrenched extortion ring involving municipal staff and law enforcement officers.

Testimonies confirm that illegal levies far exceed official fees. “Some city agents demand 2,000 FCFA per stall instead of the regulated 500 FCFA,” shared a vendor. Worse still, receipts are rarely issued, masking a fraudulent scheme that drains already-strained budgets.

Why racketeering persists despite reforms

This problem has persisted across administrations due to entrenched influence networks and a lack of cash payment tracking. For many traders, extortion is no longer an anomaly—it’s a chronic burden that erodes profits amid declining purchasing power.

With inadequate oversight at City Hall, Mayor Mba’s team faces an uphill battle to dismantle these practices.

Digital payments: a potential game-changer

Experts argue that transparency and payment digitalization could be the key to reform. By eliminating cash handling through direct municipal transactions, the city could cripple corrupt intermediaries.

For Mba, the stakes go beyond urban management. Restoring trust between local government and traders—the backbone of Libreville’s subsistence economy—is now a priority.