At the conclusion of the recent Gabon Economic Forum (GEF), Alain-Claude Kouakoua, who presides over the Federation of Gabonese Enterprises (FEG), highlighted a critical issue impacting the national economy: the substantial liabilities the State holds towards its private sector partners.
While this obligation has been estimated at 4,340 billion FCFA for years, Mr. Kouakoua suggested that the figure might be inflated. The FEG leader asserted that not all claims submitted warrant acceptance, noting that numerous files are questionable, lacking sufficient documentation or exhibiting irregularities.
Consequently, a collaborative audit, involving a specialized Task Force and the Ministry of Economy, will undertake a vital selection process. Its purpose is to distinguish verified, mutually agreed-upon liabilities from uncertain claims that will not be honored. No payments will be processed until this thorough examination concludes. One outcome is already certain: the final reconciled amount will be less than the figure widely cited for months. Furthermore, Alain-Claude Kouakoua revealed that approximately 50% of this debt has reportedly been settled since the CTRI assumed power in August 2023. He noted that businesses that received their due payments had not publicly disclosed this, contributing to ongoing ambiguity.
This upcoming framework aligns directly with a key recommendation from the GEF 2026. The priority is to liquidate domestic obligations, specifically VAT credits and outstanding payments from public contracts. This will be achieved through an accelerated system, including securitization and cross-offsetting, as part of a national clearance initiative featuring a publicly available tracking table and a dedicated National Monitoring Committee. This committee essentially marks the re-establishment of the Libreville Club.
While discussions at the forum also addressed the reliability of public statistics and enhancements to the CNAMGS, the State’s financial obligations to private enterprises clearly dominated the agenda.
For Gabon’s private sector, this announcement is exceptionally timely. Following years marked by uncertainty, disputes, and prolonged delays, a clear path now emerges for a predictable, negotiated, and thoroughly verified settlement. Many view this as the fundamental prerequisite for gradually rebuilding mutual trust between the State and its business community.
