On May 20, 2026, a pivotal €40 million investment agreement was formally concluded at the Palais Rénovation in Libreville. Anas Sefrioui, Chairman and CEO of Ciments de l’Afrique (CIMAF), and Gabon’s transitional President, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, officially sealed the deal. This substantial financial injection is specifically allocated for the comprehensive modernization of the Owendo facility, including the crucial integration of a third production line. This expansion is deemed essential to meet Gabon’s rapidly accelerating demand for construction materials, a need driven by the nation’s ambitious large-scale infrastructure projects.
Beyond its industrial ramifications, this operation signifies a profound shift in the company’s governance. The Gabonese government has signaled its firm intention to increase its participation in the capital of the local subsidiary to 20%. This follows an initial acquisition of a 10% stake in December 2025. Libreville’s move to enhance its shareholding aims to secure direct oversight, aligning with a broader economic policy implemented since August 2023. This doctrine seeks to transform significant foreign investments into nationally co-owned enterprises.
From CIMAF’s perspective, this strengthened partnership perfectly coincides with the completion of its global strategic reorientation. Anas Sefrioui’s group is systematically disengaging from the European market, a strategy underscored by the simultaneous announcement of the sale of its final cement plant in France. Facing a European market perceived as mature and subject to intense competitive pressures, the Moroccan cement producer is strategically channeling its capital towards the African continent, where the requirements for urbanization and fundamental infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, and housing, remain immense.
This transaction also highlights an evolution in Morocco’s economic spheres of influence. Historically, major Moroccan private operators have predominantly established their presence in West Africa. However, they are now increasingly structuring their operations in Central Africa within key industrial sectors. For Gabon, whose economy has traditionally relied on oil revenues, this public-private alliance serves as a crucial testing ground for an industrial diversification model, effectively combining Moroccan private capital, Gabonese public supervision, and broader regional economic integration.
