Libreville faces severe water shortage amid drought and aging infrastructure

Libreville, the capital of Gabon, has been grappling with a severe water shortage that has persisted for several months, a situation attributed to prolonged low rainfall, aging water‑supply infrastructure and rising demand from a rapidly expanding population. In response, the government declared a state of emergency earlier this month and mobilised military engineers to assist with emergency repairs and distribution efforts. Despite these measures, the rollout of a water‑distribution plan targeting the most affected neighbourhoods has not alleviated the crisis, as private water distributors have reportedly exploited the scheme to profit from the scarcity.

According to a France 24 report from Libreville, journalists Indira Ayuk, Ismaël Obiang Nze and Giresse Ngaana observed that the involvement of private distributors has undermined the intended relief, leaving many residents without reliable access to water. The government’s ongoing challenge is to secure the water network, address the shortcomings of the current distribution plan, and restore sufficient supply to the city’s households.