Gabon to Chart out a New Development Model

April 18, 2025

(3 Minutes Read)

Currently, Gabon remains heavily dependent on oil, a sector that represents about 38% of GDP and more than 70% of exports. Jean Gaspard Ntoutoume Ayi, spokesperson for President Oligui, explains the government’s priorities for the coming years.

Gabon is embarking on a major political transition with the election of General Brice Oligui Nguema, marking the end of over 50 years of the Bongo family’s rule. This new era generates strong expectations regarding governance, job creation, and economic diversification.

According to Ntoutoume Ayi, the first years of the transition will be crucial for laying the groundwork for economic development and ensuring the country’s stability. The first two years should be devoted to establishing a solid legal framework and a reliable state infrastructure. This will reassure investors and create a business-friendly environment,” he states. He adds that it will take five years to see tangible results from these reforms. “In the first 24 months, we must eliminate recurring problems such as the energy crisis and water stress. A transparent and secure business climate must be established,” he says.

Gabon’s dependence on oil is a major challenge. Ntoutoume Ayi indicates that the government is focusing on several sectors to initiate diversification. “A flagship project of the government is the Bilinga iron mine. For the exploitation of this mine, more than 600 kilometers of railways, a deep-water port, and hydroelectric dams will need to be constructed. This project could generate more than 20,000 jobs,” explains the spokesperson. Agriculture, with its untapped potential, is also one of the president’s priorities.

Gabon also plays a strategic role in regional cooperation, particularly within the ECCAS (Economic Community of Central African States). Ntoutoume Ayi recalls that “CEMAC, within ECCAS, is an economic zone that is already functioning very well. Now, we need to expand this dynamic, first facilitating the free movement of people before that of goods.” He believes that Gabon, with its natural resources and strategic geographical position, can benefit from the AFCFTA (African Continental Free Trade Area), an initiative that includes economically strong countries such as Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Youth unemployment is a major issue in Gabon, with an unemployment rate estimated at 30%. Ntoutoume Ayi insisted that the state alone cannot solve this problem. “The state apparatus will not be able to absorb all the young people looking for a job, adding that the private sector should play a central role in job creation, he explains.