Gabon’s President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema arrived in France on Monday for a three-day state visit, marking his second official trip to the country since assuming office. The visit underscores efforts to deepen bilateral cooperation across key sectors, including investment, infrastructure, energy transition, industrialization, cultural exchange, and economic collaboration.
The Gabonese delegation, composed of business leaders, government officials, and journalists, is scheduled to hold high-level discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron. Central to the agenda is the development of Gabon’s manganese processing capabilities, as the Central African nation seeks to transition from raw material exports to value-added industrial production.
By 2029, Libreville aims to halt manganese ore shipments in their unprocessed form, prioritizing domestic transformation to boost economic growth and job creation. The move aligns with long-term strategies to maximize resource benefits while reducing reliance on primary exports.
Defense cooperation also features prominently on the agenda. Officials from both nations are expected to address the future of Camp de Gaulle, France’s military base in Gabon, amid ongoing adjustments to Paris’s military footprint in Africa. Recent years have seen a significant reduction in French troop presence, from approximately 1,200 personnel to fewer than 100 today.
The visit reflects a broader commitment to revitalizing Gabon-France relations, with both sides seeking mutual gains in trade, security, and sustainable development.
