The timing could not be worse for the people of Libreville. In the middle of a sweltering hot season, where fans and air conditioners are essential for survival, a major technical breakdown has paralyzed the city’s power supply system.

Since the early hours of June 15, customers of the SEEG have found themselves unable to purchase EDAN units. These prepaid credits are the only way for thousands of households to keep their electricity running. Without them, meters across the capital have gone silent.

In an official statement, the utility company admitted to a “computer malfunction” that occurred overnight. While the SEEG suggested a resolution was imminent toward the end of the day, no specific timeline for a full recovery was provided, leaving citizens in a state of uncertainty.

The frustration is palpable on the streets. Desperate subscribers flocked to the SEEG general management headquarters in the city center, hoping for a manual workaround or a miracle. However, they were met with closed windows and no answers. “We have no reliable information,” lamented Eric Ovono, a customer waiting in line. “Everyone is just forced to wait until the system comes back online.”

The situation is becoming critical for many families. Jennifer Engouma, who usually buys her electricity through local agencies, traveled to the main office after being told it was a connectivity issue. “I am on my fourth day without power,” she explained, visibly exhausted. “At night, we are forced to live with the mosquitoes because we can’t even turn on a fan.”

The impact is not just about comfort; it is also economic. Marceline, another resident, highlighted the mounting losses. “The heat is unbearable, but the worst part is the food rotting in the freezer,” she said. She attempted to use Airtel Money to top up her meter, but the transaction failed. “We receive error messages in English, which just shows how broken the system is right now.”

This crisis raises serious questions about the reliability of SEEG‘s digital infrastructure. In an era where mobile payments and smart meters are promoted as progress, a single server error has been enough to plunge an entire capital into darkness. As night falls over Libreville, the population remains on edge, waiting for the digital pulse of the city to be restored.