French MP criticizes Gabon's 'authoritarian turn' ahead of President Oligui Nguema's Paris visit
via Gabon Review2 min read
French MP Arnaud Le Gall LFI-NFP has painted a bleak picture of Gabon, describing it as a country facing an "authoritarian turn" and a severe social crisis. In a written question addressed to the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, published in the Official Journal on June 30, Le Gall's critique comes three weeks before Gabonese President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema's state visit to Paris on July 20. The MP's concerns include the "arbitrary" detention of former Prime Minister Alain-Claude Bilie-By-Nze since April 16, a ban on demonstrations, stricter nationality laws, and the suspension of social media since February. While authorities state Bilie-By-Nze's detention is a judicial matter concerning fraud, and the social media suspension by the High Authority of Communication HAC is temporary pending legislative framework, Le Gall attributes these actions to the government. On the social front, Le Gall highlights declining purchasing power, over 30% youth unemployment, an increase in homelessness due to demolitions without rehousing, and only half the population having access to water. He also cited 18,000 deaths in hospitals over ten months in 2025. President Oligui Nguema has acknowledged issues with water and electricity, stating he is committed to addressing them. Le Gall fears the July 20 visit might imply French government endorsement of the Gabonese regime, despite Oligui Nguema himself announcing the visit and celebrating strong bilateral relations.
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Gabon Review.
Must ReadFrench Deputy Arnaud Le Gall LFI-NFP has challenged the official narrative surrounding Gabon's entry into the capital of the Eramet mining group. In a written question published in the Official Journal on June 30, 2026, Le Gall argues that the operation serves to bail out the Duval family, Eramet's reference shareholder, rather than enhance Gabon's sovereignty over its resources. He suggests the 500 million euro recapitalization, authorized on May 27, 2026, aims to restore Eramet's balance sheet before a potential sale, citing the company's 477 million euro net loss in 2025 and record debt. Le Gall claims that approximately 131 billion CFA francs of Gabon's investment would go towards "saving the Duval family," who reportedly hold 37% of the capital and are considering a partial or total exit. He also contends that holding a fraction of the parent company's capital in Paris does not provide control over operations in Gabon, where the value is concentrated, specifically in Comilog 63% of turnover and Setrag transporting 90% of ore. Le Gall highlights that Gabon remains a minority shareholder in these entities without veto power, and is independently financing railway renovation through loans from the European Union and the French Development Agency. Eramet has acknowledged Libreville's intention but has not confirmed the amount or terms of the investment.
Must ReadRepresentatives from Central African Economic and Social Councils met in N'Djamena, Chad, on June 25 and 26, 2026, to establish the Conference of Economic and Social Councils of Central Africa COCESAC. Gabon was awarded the first vice-presidency of this new organization, recognizing its delegation's contributions during the discussions. The Gabonese Economic, Social, Environmental and Cultural Council CESEC delegation was led by its second vice-president, Geoffroy Foumboula Libeka. COCESAC aims to strengthen cooperation among the region's Economic and Social Councils, serving as a permanent platform for dialogue, consultation, and proposing solutions to key economic, social, environmental, and development challenges. The organization also seeks to foster shared experiences, harmonize perspectives, and present common positions on regional development and integration. The president of the Economic, Social, Cultural and Environmental Council of Chad, Dr. Ing. Ahmat Mbodou Mahamat, was elected president of COCESAC, with Congo taking the second vice-presidency. Cameroon will serve as treasurer general and the Central African Republic as rapporteur general. Cl茅ment De-Boutet M鈥橞amba was appointed permanent secretary. This position for Gabon's CESEC acknowledges its involvement in preparatory work and commitment to sub-regional institutional cooperation, enhancing its role in regional institutional diplomacy.
Gabon's Minister of Digital Economy, Digitalization, and Innovation, Mark-Alexandre Doumba, engaged with Chinese authorities on digital projects during the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting of the New Champions in Dalian, China, from June 22 to 27. Doumba met with Chen Xiaodong, President of the China International Development Cooperation Agency CIDCA, to discuss strengthening their strategic partnership in digital technology, innovation, and technological infrastructure. Discussions focused on connectivity, data sovereignty, critical infrastructure hosting, institutional capacity building, and accelerating Gabon's digital transformation. Libreville aims for partnerships based on sustainable investments, skills transfer, and digital infrastructure development to support national administration and economic modernization, aligning with President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema's strategy for digital transformation as a key driver for economic diversification. Doumba also participated in a panel titled "Less Talking, More Deals," advocating for international economic cooperation that yields tangible benefits for populations, emphasizing that trade, investment, and digital advancements should create local value, qualified jobs, and production capacity. He highlighted Africa's declining share in global exports and called for a reevaluation of cooperation mechanisms to better integrate the continent into global value chains, stressing the need for productive investments, technolo