🇬🇦GabonCentral Africa
Gabon eco-guards threaten strike over up to nine months of unpaid salaries
via Gabon Review4 min read
Eco-guards in Gabon are threatening to strike on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, due to up to nine months of unpaid salaries. Sosthène Ndong Engonga, the secretary general of their union, stated on April 20, 2026, that despite repeated appeals, some guards are owed three months' pay, while others have not been paid for nine months. He highlighted the lack of communication from their hierarchy, forcing the union to seek information from the Public Treasury. The eco-guards are appealing directly to the head of state, reminding him of a presidential commitment to integrate National Parks Agency ANPN personnel into the civil service to resolve remuneration issues. If a solution is not found by Tuesday, the guards plan to close all 13 national parks, which Ndong Engonga warned would leave the parks vulnerable to poachers. This potential strike follows similar actions in 2021, 2022, and 2024 over the same demands, underscoring a persistent crisis that is weakening conservation efforts.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Gabon Review.
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