During the upcoming meeting in Paris, Gabonese President Brice Oligui Nguema and his French counterpart will review critical bilateral agreements reached in Libreville in late 2025. The discussions will center on strengthening economic ties and redefining defense cooperation between the two nations.

A major focus will be Gabon’s push for local processing of its manganese reserves, currently exported in raw form by Comilog, a subsidiary of the French group Eramet. Authorities in Libreville have set a strict deadline: by January 2029, all manganese must undergo initial processing within Gabon before export. While Paris has expressed support for the principle, negotiations are underway to adjust the timeline, which officials argue may be unrealistic given the substantial investments required in industrial and energy infrastructure.

“This visit will address the core challenges of our economic partnership,” emphasized a spokesperson for President Oligui Nguema late last week. The two leaders are also expected to evaluate progress on water supply contracts signed with Suez a year ago, which have faced significant delays despite a commitment worth 120 billion CFA francs.

Gabon seeks to redefine its military cooperation with France

Defense ties will be another focal point, with Libreville pushing for greater French military disengagement. Central to this demand is the transfer of ownership of the Camp de Gaulle, a former French military base, and its subsequent renaming. Over time, Gabon aims to limit bilateral military cooperation to training initiatives. The shift reflects Libreville’s broader strategy to diversify its international partnerships, including with China, Turkey, and India, though France remains Gabon’s primary diplomatic ally.

Gabon’s debt crisis looms over discussions

Beyond trade and defense, Gabon’s mounting debt—exceeding 70% of its GDP—will cast a long shadow over the talks. A comprehensive audit, whose findings are expected this month, is underway to assess the country’s financial health. Additionally, Gabon is seeking a new program with the IMF, though as of late June, critical documentation remained outstanding. France, which currently chairs the Paris Club—a group of creditor nations—has encouraged a negotiated financial solution to ease Gabon’s debt burden, which is raising concerns across the subregion and threatening the stability of the CFA franc.