Gabon higher education audit reveals over 1 billion FCFA discrepancy, government refers case to justice
via Gabon Review2 min read
Gabon's Minister of Higher Education, Professor Charles Edgard Mombo, announced on July 13, 2026, the findings of an audit into payments for temporary teaching assignments in public higher education institutions. The audit, conducted by the Ministry of Economy and Finance under instructions from President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, revealed a discrepancy of over 1 billion FCFA. While the twelve public higher education institutions declared a debt of 3.488 billion FCFA, only 2.428 billion FCFA were deemed compliant after verification. The audit examined beneficiaries, actual hours worked, and the conformity of rates for nearly 5,700 faculty and staff. The government confirmed that payments for compliant assignments would continue and that the audit report would be sent to the Ministry of Justice to establish accountability for the irregularities. Regarding the University of Science and Technology of Masuku USTM, where faculty are currently on strike, Professor Mombo stated that a first payment of over 700 million FCFA has been made available from the Treasury towards a total debt of 1.206 billion FCFA. The government is also revising a decree from March 7, 2023, to standardize hourly rates and eliminate disparities among institutions, aiming to restore credibility to Gabon's higher education system through rigorous management of public resources.
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