During a high-stakes meeting in Paris, President Brice Oligui Nguema of Gabon will address critical bilateral issues with French counterparts. The discussions, set for July 20, 2026, will focus on fulfilling agreements reached in Libreville last November 2025 between Gabon and France, according to senior officials.

A major point of contention remains Gabon’s push for local processing of manganese, extracted by Comilog, a subsidiary of the French group Eramet. Authorities in Libreville have set a firm deadline: by January 2029, all ore must undergo preliminary processing before export. While France supports the principle, negotiations are underway to adjust the timeline, deemed too ambitious given the required investments in industrial and energy infrastructure. « The purpose of this official visit is to finalize these discussions », emphasized a spokesperson for President Oligui Nguema late last week.

Gabon’s water supply and military base negotiations

Another critical topic on the agenda is the water supply agreement signed with Suez for Libreville. A year after its signing, progress has stalled. France is urging strict adherence to the commitments outlined, valued at 120 billion CFA francs.

Militarily, Gabon is pushing for a significant reduction in French military presence. The country is seeking full ownership of the Camp de Gaulle, a former French military base, and its renaming. Moving forward, defense cooperation is expected to focus exclusively on training initiatives. Gabon is also expanding its international partnerships, engaging with China, Turkey, and India, though France remains its primary diplomatic ally.

Gabon’s debt crisis: a looming regional concern

While not officially on the table, Gabon’s debt—exceeding 70% of its GDP—will undoubtedly influence the talks. Libreville has initiated a comprehensive audit, with results expected by the end of July. Simultaneously, Gabon is negotiating a program with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). However, as of late June, IMF sources noted that several required documents had not yet been submitted.

France, which currently chairs the Paris Club—a consortium of creditor nations—is advocating for a negotiated financial solution. The debt crisis in Gabon raises regional concerns, as it threatens currency stability and risks destabilizing the CFA franc.