Gabon signs N'Djamena Declaration on Water, commits to universal access
via Gabon Review5 min read
Gabon has signed the N'Djamena Declaration on Water, adopted at the African Water Forum held in the Chadian capital on July 15 and 16. Philippe Tonangoye, Minister of Universal Access to Water and Energy, signed the document, which commits signatory states to three priorities: water for people, for food systems, and for the planet. It also calls for the development of Water Pacts, which are investment instruments with monitoring mechanisms. By signing, Gabon commits to a national Water Pact. The declaration, under the initiative Water Forward launched by the World Bank, addresses the lack of access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene for millions of Africans, exacerbated by droughts, floods, ecosystem degradation, and rapid urbanization. It emphasizes the need for strong institutions, effective operators, ambitious reforms, and increased public and private funding. The three axes of action are universal, equitable, affordable, and resilient access to water for populations, modernization of hydraulic and irrigation infrastructure for food systems, and protection of rivers, lakes, wetlands, and aquifers for the planet. Signatories commit to strengthening governance, operational performance, and financial viability of sector operators, accelerating reforms, increasing public investments, and fostering private sector participation. The declaration urges countries to develop and implement Water Pacts, which include investment priorities, project portfolios, sectoral re
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The National Museum of Rites, Arts and Traditions in Libreville officially launched the Chinese cultural season on Wednesday, July 15, with a joint exhibition dedicated to traditional Gabonese and Chinese attire. The Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Gabon, in partnership with the Ministry of Youth, Sports, Cultural Outreach and Arts, and the National Museum, organized the event. Running until August 16 under the theme "From Tradition to Modernity," the exhibition highlights the dialogue between the two countries' clothing heritages and celebrates their rich cultural identities. This event is part of Sino-Gabonese cultural cooperation and aligns with the recent decision by Gabonese authorities to mandate traditional attire every Friday in public administrations. Julie 脡l茅onore Nzang Obame, Director General of the National Museum, praised this public initiative to promote national heritage, emphasizing clothing as an essential identity marker carrying memory and history. Chinese Ambassador to Gabon, Zhou Ping, also commended the initiative, stating it increases the visibility of national clothing heritage and promotes traditions. He noted the exhibition aligns with the International Day for Dialogue Among Civilizations, symbolizing a meeting "between silk and raffia." The exhibition features Chinese attire like the Qipao and costumes inspired by the Tang, Song, and Ming dynasties, alongside Gabonese collections made from raffia, lianas, and tree bark, showcasing anc
Cam茅lia Ntoutoume Leclercq, Gabon's Minister of National Education, visited Libreville Central Prison on Wednesday, July 15, to oversee the baccalaureate exams for incarcerated candidates. Her visit underscored the government's commitment to inclusive education and the social and professional reintegration of prisoners. The minister praised the collaboration between the Ministries of National Education and Justice, as well as the penitentiary administration, for organizing exams in a prison setting. Classrooms have been set up within the prison to allow detainees to study and take exams under conditions similar to traditional schools. Across Gabon, 31 detainees are participating in the 2026 baccalaureate session, with 27 in the general baccalaureate and 4 in the technological baccalaureate. The Estuaire province has the highest number of candidates with 22. Minister Leclercq emphasized that the right to education is guaranteed for all, regardless of their judicial situation, and expressed satisfaction with the candidates' motivation and high success rates. She also highlighted that obtaining a diploma, while not ending a prison sentence, provides a significant advantage for post-detention life, enabling further studies or vocational training and entrepreneurship. She urged society to combat stigmatization and offer second chances to those who have served their time.