Shopping in Gabon

A marché may be a municipal or neighborhood market where several traders sell goods directly. A boutique or épicerie serves local daily needs, while a supérette or supermarché offers self-service shopping and a broader range. Formal retail is concentrated especially in Libreville, Owendo and Port-Gentil. CECA-GADIS operates stores under names including Géant CKdo, Maxi CKdo, Super CKdo, CECADO, Intergros, Sogame Equip and Matelec; CECADO also has about 60 proximity stores in Libreville and the provinces. Local availability remains variable, so a product found in one city or district may not be available elsewhere. Markets, boutiques and larger retailers sell groceries, hygiene products, cosmetics, household goods, clothing, electronics, appliances, hardware and decorative items. Clothing is also available through friperie traders, artisans and online marketplaces. Pharmacies and parfumeries can be relevant for personal-care products, while specialist shops serve phones, accessories, electronics and appliances. Prices and stock depend strongly on the seller, locality and supply conditions. Check whether the displayed price includes all charges and ask for a receipt or facture when available. The legal tender is the CFA franc BEAC, written XAF; the fixed reference rate is 1 EUR = 655.957 XAF. Cash remains widely used. Airtel Money and Moov Money support merchant payments, transfers and withdrawals, and their documented USSD codes are *150# and *555# respectively. Card acceptance depends on the merchant. A QR-payment initiative called MaDiGiPaie was being rolled out for merchants in Libreville in 2026, but it does not yet replace other payment methods. Keep the transaction confirmation, seller name, amount and reference, and never disclose a PIN or one-time password. Online shopping uses local marketplaces and individual seller accounts on websites, social networks and WhatsApp. Examples include Gnima Services, Lekett, WoKaTroc, DICASS, GabonVente, Odm's Shopping and go.BUTA. They offer categories such as fashion, beauty, household goods, electronics, accessories and new or used products. E-commerce remains less established than physical retail because logistics, online payment and trust can be difficult. Verify the seller's identity, stock, product origin, warranty and return terms. Confirm the delivery zone, fee and payment method before ordering. Gnima advertises nationwide delivery in 24 to 72 hours and Odm's advertises 24-hour delivery, but these are seller-specific offers rather than a national delivery standard. Pickup, showroom collection and cash on delivery may be available. Product information and price transparency are monitored by the Direction Générale de la Concurrence et de la Répression des Fraudes (DGCCRF), including its Direction de la Consommation. Gabon has no single standalone national consumer code; relevant protection comes from several national rules and CEMAC Directive 04/2019 on consumer harmonisation. Product names, composition, labeling, displayed prices, false discounts and product safety can be checked by the authorities. Unsafe or non-conforming goods may be seized, withdrawn or recalled. Legal guarantees for conformity and hidden defects are referenced by the DGCCRF, but Gabon does not provide an evidenced uniform national return or refund right for every ordinary purchase. The seller's or platform's terms therefore matter, especially for online orders. For a defective, unsafe or misdescribed product, contact the seller or platform first and preserve the receipt, invoice, order record, payment confirmation, photographs, packaging and lot number. If the matter remains unresolved, the Direction de la Consommation accepts complaint records and can handle consumer disputes or product analysis within its remit. AGASA is relevant to food-safety controls, while a mixed AGASA-Commerce brigade announced in 2026 concerns prices, expiry dates, safety, labeling and storage; it is not a general private returns office. No universal complaint fee or response deadline has been published. Inspect French-language labeling, composition, expiry or production dates, lot information, seals and warranty terms, particularly for imported goods. French is the dominant commercial language, and DGCCRF guidance states that product indications should not be provided in a language other than French. Counterfeit or falsified goods can create safety and warranty risks. For online purchases, use a verified account or domain, confirm the recipient and keep the complete digital record; avoid advance payment when the seller cannot be verified. Single-use plastic bags are prohibited nationally under Ordonnance 0012/PR/2024, ratified by Loi 009/2024. Reported exceptions include medical, pharmaceutical, industrial, agricultural and food uses, waste collection and reusable plastic bags. Carrying a reusable bag reduces the need for disposable packaging. Reuse channels such as WoKaTroc exist, while recycling and collection infrastructure varies by locality.