Libreville, Gabon — A six-month suspension of import duties and taxes on basic goods is producing mixed results in the capital, with some supermarkets cutting shelf prices while smaller shops leave tags unchanged, according to local reports. Official statements indicate the measure, published in a revised price bulletin on 20 February, was designed to ease living costs by lowering the landed cost of rice, cooking oil, milk and soap. Traders contacted during spot checks cite stock bought under the old tariff regime as the main obstacle, while others declined to speak or allow photographs.
The uneven response highlights the gap between policy intent and day — to-day retail logistics, including existing inventories and profit margins. Enforcement now rests with the competition and consumer-protection directorate, whose teams began random inspections on Monday. Regional officials confirmed that penalties for non-compliance range from fines to temporary closure, though no sanctions had been announced as of Tuesday evening.
Further details are expected once the first weekly compliance report is released.
