Traditional Iboga Use in Gabon Linked to Global Pharmaceutical Demand

Libreville, Gabon, is noted as a location where iboga, a bitter root bark, is used in traditional Gabonese ritual practices, such as the Bwiti tradition. The plant, Tabernanthe iboga, is cultivated and gathered in Gabon's forests and villages. This traditional use is occurring against a backdrop of increasing international interest in ibogaine, a drug derived from the plant, due to a US executive order.

The potential for ibogaine in addiction treatment has drawn attention from pharmaceutical companies. This growing international demand could create new revenue streams for Gabon, where the plant is traditionally used and cultivated.