Gabon, EDF, and GPC sign commitment protocol for Booué hydroelectric project in Paris
via Gabon Review3 min read
The Gabonese State, EDF Power Solutions, and Gabon Power Company GPC signed a mutual commitment protocol in Paris for the development of the Booué hydroelectric project. The signing, which took place on July 20, 2026, during Gabonese Head of State Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema's state visit to France, was witnessed by Presidents Oligui Nguema and Emmanuel Macron. The agreement confirms EDF Development Africa and GPC as reference partners for the project and sets October 31, 2026, as the deadline for signing a development agreement. The document was signed by Philippe Tonangoye, Minister of Universal Access to Water and Energy for the Gabonese Republic; Béatrice Buffon, CEO of EDF Power Solutions SA; and Philippe Jr. Ossoucah, Director General of GPC. Booué is described as a strategic infrastructure designed to strengthen Gabon's electricity production capacity and support its industrial development. This protocol follows two previous memorandums of understanding signed on October 23, 2025, and May 11, 2026, which established the pre-development framework and initiated exclusive negotiations. The three signatories are committed to mobilizing resources for ongoing negotiations, aiming for a development agreement by October 31, 2026. This agreement will detail the development budget, role distribution, project governance, and a timeline for studies to be completed by the end of 2027. A steering committee will meet monthly to monitor negotiation progress. The Booué hydroelectric p
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During his official visit to France, President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema announced on July 21, 2026, in Paris, the return of Alain Giresse to the technical staff of the Gabonese national football team, the Panthères. Giresse, who previously coached Gabon to the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, is expected to assume the role of national technical director. The announcement was made during a gala dinner hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace on July 22, 2026. President Oligui Nguema paid tribute to several French football figures before confirming the 72-year-old technician's return, stating, "I announce to everyone that Alain Giresse, present here, will join the staff of the Gabonese national football team." He justified this choice by highlighting Giresse's experience during his previous tenure, adding, "We need you and I know what you brought to our national team at the time." Alain Giresse served as Gabon's coach from 2006 to 2010, leading the Panthères to the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations finals and overseeing a significant rebuilding of the team with the integration of young talents. As national technical director, Giresse is expected to work alongside Sébastien Migné, the recently appointed coach of the Panthères by the Gabonese Football Federation, to enhance the team's performance.
Gabon is exploring a legal status for traditional authorities. On July 21, a delegation of kings and traditional chiefs, led by His Majesty Louis Paul Eliwatchango, AgunguMpongwé King, met with the Minister of Justice, Keeper of the Seals, Augustin Emane. The customary authorities presented a draft text proposing the creation of a legal structure for traditional chieftaincies in the Gabonese Republic. This document, over fifty pages long with annexes, aims to provide chieftaincies with a legal framework defining their organization, missions, rights, and obligations. The initiative, which began in June, seeks to integrate ancestral practices with modern legal guarantees, ensuring their actions are recognized within a stable national framework. The AgunguMpongwé King explained that this initiative officially recognizes the role of traditional authorities in national life without replacing state institutions. He stated that traditional leaders provide spiritual support to the country. The project outlines the designation and enthronement of sovereigns, respecting customs while including morality investigations. These provisions aim to establish order and discipline within traditional chieftaincies for state recognition. Louis Paul Eliwatchango emphasized the social and spiritual significance of future legal recognition, viewing the king as a national cohesion builder, preserving harmony, and conducting spiritual actions for peace. The annexes detail responsibilities, aiming to e
The Minister of Housing, Mays Mouissi, visited the Bellambra Residence construction site in Akanda on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, to assess the progress of the work. This project, comprising 500 apartments, is the first phase of a 5,000-housing unit program under an agreement between the Gabonese state and the Addoha group. The initial buildings have reached the structural work stage, and the first keys are expected to be handed over before the end of 2026. The project, officially launched on May 6 in the presence of the Vice-President of the Government, is progressing according to schedule. Two buildings, containing 52 apartments and four commercial spaces, are already structurally complete, with a 70% reservation rate. Kampala Kaina, Addoha's General Manager in Gabon, announced the start of construction for nine additional buildings. The program targets civil servants, private sector employees, self-employed workers, and other eligible buyers for bank financing, offering two to three-bedroom apartments starting from 30 million CFA francs. To facilitate home ownership, mortgage loans may be granted for 15 years or more, subject to bank approval. The Ministry of Housing aims to enable eligible households to gradually replace rent payments with comparable mortgage installments. This initial deadline for key handovers will apply only to the first completed homes, not all 500 apartments in this phase. Mouissi's visit is part of monitoring the agreement signed on February 13, 2025, b