The security operation conducted on the night of June 28, 2026 in Owendo primarily targeted night-time economy establishments — bars, maquis, and small shops. In this working-class suburb of Greater Libreville, these businesses provide a vital income source for hundreds of vulnerable households.
Behind the security imperative, a silent economic toll is emerging: temporary closures, lost revenue, and arrests of informal workers.
When will the night-time sector get regulated oversight?
In a context where youth unemployment remains high and the informal economy absorbs a large share of the active population, a purely repressive approach risks further impoverishing workers who, for many, have no safety net.
Securing without impoverishing: a challenge Gabon’s authorities cannot sidestep
The real question is not choosing between security and economy, but thinking them together.
This requires regulated oversight of the night-time sector, dialogue with stakeholders, and support mechanisms — fiscal, administrative, social — to move these activities out of the grey zone where they thrive for lack of alternatives.
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