The Gabonese government has decided to terminate its Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (SFPA) with the European Union (EU), which formally expired on June 28, 2026, without renewal.
Established initially in 2007 and subsequently renewed in 2014 and 2021, the agreement generated an estimated 17 billion CFA francs for the Gabonese state over five years. However, Libreville officials deemed the financial returns inadequate compared to the volume of catches in national waters.
The decision to sever ties with the EU followed a June 2025 cabinet meeting led by transitional president Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, concluding nearly two decades of fisheries collaboration. Gabon now aims to shift toward local tuna processing to boost job creation, industrial investments, and domestic economic value.
