Gabon prepares for chicken import ban with agricultural research at Kougouleu
via Gabon Review2 min read
Gabon is accelerating preparations for a ban on chicken imports, scheduled for January 1, 2027. The Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Professor Charles Edgar Mombo, visited the experimental site in Kougouleu, 55 kilometers from Libreville, to assess progress on research aimed at ensuring local production of agricultural inputs for poultry feed. The site is conducting adaptability tests on strategic crops such as corn, soybeans, rice, peanuts, and beans to identify varieties best suited to Gabon's climate and soil conditions. Gauthier Parfait Boussougou Boussougou, head of the Corn program, explained that the goal is to produce the necessary feed for chickens locally. The minister emphasized the approaching deadline for the import ban and the need to accelerate research and development. Researchers at Kougouleu are working to select agricultural varieties to meet the needs of the future national poultry sector, with encouraging results, including the certification of three rice varieties by the Institute of Agronomic and Forestry Research IRAF. The ministry also plans to implement training programs for producers and establish seed stocks to support the growth of selected crops, aiming to secure raw material supplies before the import ban takes effect. Professor Mombo highlighted the country's agricultural potential and the role of scientific research in supporting public policies, stating that higher education is capable of supporting the President's decisi
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Gabon and France commemorated Captain Charles N'Tchoréré on June 7 in Libreville, 86 years after his death. The ceremony, held at the mausoleum named after him, honored the Gabonese officer who died in 1940 after refusing racial discrimination. Gabonese and French authorities, including the Secretary General of the Ministry of National Defense, Major General Sylvain Florent Pangou Mbembo, and Colonel Jean-Côme Journé, military attaché at the French Embassy in Gabon, attended the event. General Bruno Ewingui, Director General of the National Office of Veterans, described N'Tchoréré as an emblematic figure of bravery and dignity, embodying the courage of African soldiers in global conflicts. N'Tchoréré, born Charles Borromée Messani Yi N'Tchoréré in Libreville on December 15, 1896, joined the French army and fought in both World War I and World War II. He was killed on June 7, 1940, during the Battle of Airaines, after German soldiers executed him for refusing to be separated from his European comrades, a violation of the 1929 Geneva Convention. His legacy includes posthumous distinctions such as the Order of the Legion of Honor and the Croix de guerre. Colonel Jean-Côme Journé emphasized France's duty to remember this hero. Captain N'Tchoréré remains a symbol of courage, commitment, and resistance against injustice.
Must ReadInvestigations are ongoing into an alleged embezzlement of over 700 million FCFA related to vacation bonuses at Gabon's Ministry of National Education. The public prosecutor, Dick Fabrice Boungou Mickolo, confirmed on Saturday, June 6, 2026, that the financial damage exceeds initial estimates, with twenty individuals currently in police custody. The case originated from a 2025 audit by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, which identified irregularities in the beneficiary list after an abnormal increase in the vacation bonus budget. The fraud scheme reportedly involved creating fictitious budget lines for bonus payments via bank transfers or cash vouchers, primarily benefiting individuals within the Ministry's Central Directorate of Financial Affairs. An agent from this directorate, among those arrested, has implicated the Minister of State for National Education, Camélia Ntoutoume Leclercq, stating that all ministry expenditures bore her approval and that as the principal authorizing officer, she could not have been unaware of the financial movements. These statements are part of the ongoing investigation and will be cross-referenced with judicial inquiries to establish responsibilities and the exact extent of the state's losses.
Gabon will host the 2027 Qwan Ki Do African Championship in Libreville, aiming to promote the martial art across the continent and highlight Gabonese athletes' performances. This decision follows Gabon's success at the 8th Qwan Ki Do World Championship in Romania from May 22 to 24, 2026, where the national team earned one silver and two bronze medals, finishing as vice-world champions. The continental competition will bring together top African teams in Qwan Ki Do, a Sino-Vietnamese martial art that combines unarmed combat, weapon techniques with bladed weapons, and philosophical elements from Taoism. The event will feature strikes, throws, joint locks, and codified forms known as quyens, performed in competition or demonstration. The championship is expected to attract official delegations, coaches, and enthusiasts from various African countries. By hosting this event, Gabon seeks to confirm its growing prominence in Qwan Ki Do and strengthen its position as a host for major sporting events in Africa.