Gabon and European Union discuss new fishing agreement after previous accord denounced by Libreville
via Gabon Review2 min read
One year after Gabon terminated its Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement with the European Union, both parties are seeking common ground. During a Partnership Dialogue in Libreville on June 8, 2026, Gabon and the EU engaged in discussions about the future of their fisheries cooperation, aiming for mutually beneficial solutions. The Gabonese government, through its spokesperson Professor Charles Edgar Mombo, stated that clarifications were provided to achieve mutually beneficial solutions in sustainable fishing. Gabon had initiated the unilateral denunciation of the agreement in June 2025, citing that the existing partnership no longer met its economic and industrial ambitions. Libreville had previously criticized insufficient financial compensation for catches in its waters and high surveillance costs. Gabon also expressed concerns about the limited involvement of European partners in developing a local fish processing industry, arguing that the agreement yielded low added value, job creation, and skills transfer. Beyond economic factors, the termination was part of a broader strategy to strengthen national sovereignty over fisheries resources, aiming for greater control over marine resource exploitation and fostering a competitive national fishing sector. The agreement, renewed in 2021 for five years and set to expire in 2026, primarily granted tuna fishing opportunities to European vessels in Gabonese waters. While no concrete announcements were made after the recent
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.
Sébastien Migné, recently appointed head coach of Gabon's national football team, the Panthers, has set an ambitious goal: to qualify the team for the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 2030. Arriving in Libreville on July 23, Migné outlined his long-term vision, which extends beyond immediate sporting events. He emphasized that achieving this historic qualification will require a period of transition, focusing on stabilizing the team while preparing for the future. Migné acknowledged the need to motivate the current generation of players and integrate new talent. He stressed that the team's resurgence cannot be achieved by the technical staff alone, calling for the mobilization of all stakeholders in Gabonese football, including leaders, staff, players, and the public, to restore the Panthers' continental standing. Migné also expressed satisfaction with the anticipated appointment of Alain Giresse as the national technical director. He highlighted Giresse's extensive experience with Gabonese football, having previously coached the Panthers from 2006 to 2010, and believes this collaboration will be a significant asset in achieving their shared objective. Migné stated that this partnership of skills is crucial, as he cannot accomplish the project alone. His roadmap for the next four years involves gradually rebuilding the Panthers, enhancing their competitiveness in Africa, and creating the conditions for a historic 2030 World Cup qualification.
Must ReadGabon's revised finance law, promulgated on July 17, shows a significant 97% reduction in expected corporate tax revenue from the mining sector. The anticipated income from mining companies dropped from 53.2 billion CFA francs to 1.47 billion CFA francs, a decrease of nearly 51.8 billion CFA francs. This reduction alone accounts for over 5% of the total revenue revision. Other state revenues were generally revised downwards by 20% to 30%. Beyond corporate tax, other revenue streams from the mining sector also saw substantial declines. Export duties on minerals fell by 60% from 44 billion to 17.6 billion CFA francs, and state participation in mining companies decreased by 49% from 29 billion to 14.8 billion CFA francs. Revenues from the mining domain dropped by 28%, and the tax on mineral products by 36%. These reductions also impacted organizations funded by these revenues, such as the Société équatoriale des mines SEM and the Strategic Fund for Manganese Transformation. The revised law also approved two mining agreements with Nouvelle Gabon Mining SA, granting extensive tax and customs exemptions for the "Manganèse Franceville" concession and the Okondja-Lebaye manganese exploitation permit. These exemptions include corporate tax, minimum flat tax, VAT on local purchases and imports, property tax, and customs duties on project-related materials and equipment. The budget allocated for the control of the mining sector also saw an 86% reduction, with the "Industry and Mines" mi
Must ReadFollowing a state visit to France, a Gabonese delegation is traveling directly to Perth, Australia, to meet with Fortescue. The discussions will focus on the control of infrastructure for the Belinga iron ore project, rather than geological aspects. This includes a deep-water port, 535 kilometers of railway, and a 400-megawatt dam, representing the largest industrial project ever undertaken in Gabon. The delegation, led by Vice President of the Government Hermann Immongault, and including Minister of Mines and Geological Resources Sosthène Nguema Nguema and Minister of Industry and Local Transformation Lubin Ntoutoume, is addressing Fortescue's dissatisfaction with the current project structure. Fortescue's initial proposal for an integrated solution covering the mine, rail, port, and energy was altered when Gabon signed an agreement with Africa Global Logistics and Algest Investment Bank in April 2026, entrusting AGL with the deep-water port construction. This decision effectively removed three of the four components from Fortescue's integrated plan. Fortescue reportedly conveyed its concerns through diplomatic channels. Gabon's decision to disaggregate the project is attributed to Fortescue's perceived slow progress since 2023 and the country's past experience with Eramet and its subsidiary Comilog, which controls both the Moanda manganese mine and associated transport infrastructure. Gabon aims to retain control over infrastructure, even if built by third parties, to preve