African Union accelerates preparations for China's tariff exemption deadline on May 1, 2026
via Gabon Review2 min read
The African Union is intensifying coordination ahead of China's full customs duty exemption for several African countries, set to take effect on May 1, 2026. Diplomats and experts met in Beijing on April 23 and 24 to transform this commercial opening into a concrete lever for development, industrialization, and continental integration. A strategic seminar organized by the AU Permanent Mission in China will gather African ambassadors, continental institutions, and Chinese partners to structure a coordinated response, maximizing African products' access to the Chinese market. Discussions will focus on improving the competitiveness of African economies through production financing, value chain upgrading, agro-industry and manufacturing development, and the creation of special economic zones. Participants will also align this opportunity with the African Continental Free Trade Area and Agenda 2063 to ensure coherence and strengthen Africa's position in global trade. The meeting will facilitate experience sharing among African countries already trading with China to identify and address practical obstacles like standards, logistics, and production capacities. This mobilization follows commitments made within the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation FOCAC, with the AU aiming to accelerate concrete implementation. The African Union emphasizes that without coordinated preparation, the customs exemption risks producing limited effects, whereas a structured continental strategy could cata
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FlyGabon officially launched a new direct flight between Libreville and Lagos on April 17, 2026, marking a significant expansion of its international network. This new route brings FlyGabon's total destinations to 18, with 14 being international. The airline aims to strengthen connections between key African economic hubs, particularly targeting Lagos as a major economic center in West Africa. The service offers four weekly flights, with options for direct travel or via Cotonou, using Airbus A320 and Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft. This initiative is expected to boost economic exchanges between Central and West Africa, benefiting business travelers, traders, and investors. FlyGabon also enhances its role as a hub, providing connections through Libreville to other African cities like Johannesburg, Douala, and Malabo. A promotional one-way economy fare of 163,000 FCFA is available. Nyl Moret-Mba, the company's Director General, stated that the Lagos route underscores FlyGabon's ambition to link major African economic capitals and offer reliable, comfortable, and accessible travel solutions, recognizing Nigeria as a crucial market. FlyGabon is a strategic partnership between the Gabonese state and Afrijet Business Service, which brings its expertise in safety and reliability, having been founded in 2004 and IOSA certified since 2020.
Bruno Ecuele Manga, general manager of Gabon's national football team, the Panthères, recently completed an international training program organized by FIFA in Rabat, Morocco, from April 15 to 17, 2026. This training for national team officials is a strategic step as the Gabonese team undergoes a deep reorganization. Appointed general manager in March 2026, the former captain emphasized that managing a national team involves more than just football; it requires organization, strategy, and a strong human element. The program covered key areas such as crisis management, logistics, coordination among staff and players, and leadership under pressure. Ecuele Manga, who has over 117 international caps, views these skills as essential for structuring a national team effectively. This initiative follows prior training supported by Fegafoot and aims to strengthen the team's administrative and technical architecture. He stated, "I am leaving with concrete tools, but also with a clearer vision of my role. The work begins now." This enhanced expertise is seen as a crucial lever for professionalizing the team's operations and improving the Panthères' performance on the international stage during their current transition phase.
Patrice Revangue Zavrosa, Administrator and Director General of Mika Service, a subsidiary of Holding ACK S.A., has provided insights into the acquisition of Colas Gabon by Holding ACK S.A. The acquisition, announced on April 19, 2026, involves Holding ACK taking over all activities, personnel, and expertise of Colas Gabon. Zavrosa stated that the primary objective of this vertical integration is to secure inputs for Mika Service, which has a high volume of market opportunities and government projects. These inputs, such as gravel, asphalt, and concrete, were previously purchased from third parties. The acquisition also aims to make these resources available to other Gabonese SMEs. While some observers noted Colas Gabon's declining market presence, Zavrosa clarified that Mika Service's strong market position and ability to execute projects quickly made the acquisition strategic for securing its supply chain. He also addressed rumors regarding Colas's mining permits, confirming that while the permits were not the sole reason for the acquisition, they offered a significant advantage by providing ready-to-use infrastructure for aggregate production, avoiding lengthy permit application processes and investments in new crushing plants. Zavrosa credited Alain-Claude Kouakoua, CEO of Holding ACK, for his foresight in seizing this opportunity as Colas sought to refocus on markets outside Gabon. This operation marks a significant step in establishing a Gabonese group at the forefront
Must ReadGabonese group Holding ACK S.A. announced on April 19, 2026, the signing of an agreement to acquire 90% of Colas Gabon's capital from Colas International. The Gabonese state will retain its existing 10% stake. This acquisition is expected to structurally reconfigure Gabon's public works and construction sector, which has long been dominated by a few foreign operators. Colas Gabon, established in the country for decades, employs 254 people, mostly Gabonese, and possesses an integrated industrial infrastructure including quarries, aggregate production, asphalt plants, and quality control laboratories. Holding ACK, led by Alain-Claude Kouakoua, has committed to ensuring operational continuity, maintaining all jobs, and preserving client and partner relationships. This acquisition goes beyond a simple asset transfer. For decades, Colas reportedly refused to sell aggregates, bitumen, and asphalt to competing companies, including Gabonese SMEs. The road construction market was effectively controlled by an oligopoly of four or five foreign majors who "discreetly" divided state tenders. Holding ACK intends to change this dynamic by selling its materials to any solvent operator, thereby opening access for small and medium-sized Gabonese construction companies. The stated ambition is also to reduce the cost per kilometer of road, currently influenced by opaque pricing structures inherited from this de facto arrangement. Holding ACK, already active in public works, hydrocarbon transport