
Gabon's Qwan Ki Do team achieved significant international recognition by finishing as vice-champion at the 8th World Championship in Romania. The team, largely composed of members from the Gabonese military engineering corps, earned one silver medal and two bronze medals. This performance allowed the Gabonese flag to be raised and the national anthem, La Concorde, to be played during award ceremonies. Arnaud Lilian Billie, deputy coordinator of the national Qwan Ki Do team, stated that these results confirm Gabon's growing influence in martial arts. In addition to their world vice-champion title, the Gabonese delegation also secured the African champion title. Me Guy Florent Evouna, the Qwan Ki Do representative in Gabon, thanked partners and institutional support for enabling the team's participation. Following a technical meeting with the discipline's founding grand master, Gabon was chosen to host the next African Championship. This continental event is scheduled for April 2027 in Libreville, where it will bring together top African teams and further establish Gabon's leadership in Qwan Ki Do on the continent.
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Samb'a Assurances, a young company selected by UGRIF for Central African Securities Exchange BVMAC listing support, is led by Dr. Andrew Gwodog. Dr. Gwodog previously headed Soci茅t茅 commerciale gabonaise de r茅assurance SCG-R茅 from 2012 to November 2023, making it Central Africa's leading reinsurer. Under his leadership, SCG-R茅 increased its capital by 5 billion FCFA in late 2022 for its own BVMAC introduction. Founded in September 2024, Samb'a Assurances focuses on digital micro-insurance for underserved populations, including informal sector workers, farmers, and small traders. The company has a pan-African shareholding with partners from Burkina Faso, C么te d'Ivoire, and Gabon. In just fifteen months, Samb'a Assurances saw its turnover grow from 188 million FCFA in 2024 to 443 million FCFA in 2025, a 136% increase, with a net profit of 33 million FCFA. It also reports an average claims settlement time of less than ten days for over 300 settled claims. This growth continued with the May 2026 launch of Samb'a Assurances Cameroun, capitalized at over 615 million FCFA with 59 shareholders. UGRIF's selection of Samb'a Assurances for its IPO project is based on the founder's financial market experience, established regional governance, and sustained growth.
Must ReadGabon's public debt reached 8,780 billion FCFA by the end of December 2025, an increase of 1,647 billion FCFA in one year. For the first time, the state owes more to banks within the country and the sub-region than to major foreign creditors. External debt slightly decreased to 4,127.6 billion FCFA, while domestic debt surged by nearly 57% in one year, reaching 4,652.7 billion FCFA. The Directorate General of Debt attributes this increase to two main factors. Firstly, a Task Force on debt officially recognized and validated previously uncounted state debts to companies and suppliers, known as "moratoriums," totaling 758.7 billion FCFA. Secondly, the state borrowed significantly from the regional financial market, raising 2,161.7 billion FCFA in 2025, with over half of this amount coming from banks outside Gabon in neighboring countries. Despite record repayments of 2,565.4 billion FCFA in 2025, including special operations like debt repurchases and Operation MOUELE, payment arrears have accumulated. Operation MOUELE, completed in April 2025, restructured domestic debt repayments, extending the average duration from 2.3 years to 6 years to ease the financial burden. However, payment arrears reached 459.5 billion FCFA, an increase of 193 billion FCFA from the end of 2024. While the state prioritizes repaying major international lenders to maintain confidence, partner countries are owed 155 billion FCFA, foreign suppliers 121.4 billion FCFA, and validated moratorium debts have 1
Must ReadGabon's decision to suspend social media access in February, in response to content deemed dangerous or destabilizing, resulted in a nationwide internet slowdown. This measure, initially aimed at curbing abuses by a few, has penalized all users, including students, researchers, journalists, and entrepreneurs, who face disruptions to videoconferences, delayed transactions, and lost clients. Despite the restrictions, public institutions and administrations continue to use social media for communication, creating a paradox. The economic cost of a degraded internet is significant, leading to decreased productivity for businesses, delayed orders, and lost opportunities. Modern economies rely on efficient communication tools, and a slow internet hinders growth and diversification efforts. The article argues that a country's attractiveness depends on its infrastructure quality, including digital, and reducing internet access sends a concerning signal to investors, especially in a country already facing high electricity costs. It suggests that a more balanced approach, focusing on proportionate and targeted responses, would be more suitable than a measure with indistinct effects, emphasizing that while security and stability are legitimate concerns, judicial mechanisms and technical reinforcement could address infractions without penalizing the entire population. Ultimately, a slow internet could impede Gabon's ambitions to attract investors, stimulate innovation, and develop its dig