Libreville grapples with power credit crisis amid computer failure

Sweltering temperatures have turned Libreville into an oven, where every flick of a switch or spin of a fan hinges on reliable electricity. Yet, since dawn on June 15, residents have been left in the dark—not by the grid, but by a crippling digital malfunction.

Subscribers of the Société d’Énergie et d’Eau du Gabon (SEEG) have been unable to purchase EDAN units, the vital credits required to keep their prepaid meters running. The disruption has left households scrambling for alternatives, as the company’s official statement acknowledged a computer system failure overnight, though no timeline for resolution was provided—only vague assurances of an imminent fix by day’s end.

Frustrated customers flocked to SEEG’s head office in the city center, pleading for answers. Yet, the queues at customer service desks yielded nothing but silence. “We’re in the dark about everything. Everyone’s stuck waiting for things to magically sort themselves out,” lamented Eric Ovono, a resident whose patience had worn thin.

Jennifer Engouma, who typically purchases her credits from local agencies, hit a dead end. “They told me it’s a connection issue. I rushed to the city center, but even the main office has no units available. I’ve been without power for four days now. At night, the mosquitoes share my bed,” she shared, her voice heavy with exhaustion.

Marceline’s ordeal mirrored the city’s collective struggle. “The heat is unbearable, but what choice do we have? I tried paying via Airtel Money like always, but the system rejected it. All I got was an error message in English—a cruel reminder that our digital lifelines have collapsed. My freezer is full of spoiled food,” she recounted, her frustration boiling over.

The incident exposes deeper vulnerabilities in SEEG’s digital infrastructure, where mobile payments and smart meters have become the backbone of service delivery. A single technical glitch has paralyzed thousands of households, forcing them back to outdated payment methods and helpless waiting.

As night falls over Libreville, all eyes are on SEEG’s servers. While whispers of a swift resolution spread, the bitterness lingers. The promise of dependable service has once again collided with the harsh reality of a system that crumbles under the slightest pressure, plunging the capital into an unsettling darkness.