🇬🇦GabonCentral Africa
Gabon strengthens border security with UNODC partnership for container and passenger control program
via Gabon Review2 min read
On April 20, 2026, in Libreville, Gabon signed an agreement with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime UNODC to implement a Container and Passenger Control Program CPCP. The initiative aims to enhance border security, combat illicit trafficking, and boost the country's economic attractiveness. The agreement was co-signed by Marc Abeghe, Minister Delegate for Economy and Finance in charge of the Budget, Ulrich Manfoumbi Manfoumbi, Minister of State for Transport, and Adrien Nguema Mba, Minister of Interior. The CPCP focuses on strengthening port and airport security, particularly in response to increasing transnational trafficking. The program includes establishing mixed control units in strategic infrastructures, with the first already being deployed at the port of Owendo. Beyond security, this system is expected to generate significant economic benefits by improving the detection of illicit goods and streamlining controls, thereby securing logistical chains and facilitating legal trade. The professionalization of agents through enhanced risk analysis and concealment detection training is also a key component. The agreement will foster real-time intelligence sharing with regional and international partners, improving intervention effectiveness and flow traceability. Marc Abeghe stated that this agreement reflects the government's commitment to international cooperation and coordination, aligning with President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema's vision for a competitive and
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Must ReadAt the opening of the 5th NewSpace Africa conference in Libreville on April 20, 2026, Cécile Abadie, the European Union Ambassador to Gabon, emphasized the strategic role of space in the partnership between Africa and Europe. She highlighted the tangible benefits already being realized by African populations. Abadie stated that space is a foundational pillar of the partnership between the European Union and the African Union, providing concrete services to African populations. She noted that cooperation has moved from concepts to concrete operations. She detailed several programs demonstrating this transformation. Initiatives like GMES & Africa use satellite data to improve water management, agriculture, and coastal zone management, directly benefiting farmers, coastal communities, and the blue economy. In the climate sector, the ClimSA program enhances access to meteorological data and early warning systems, aiding risk anticipation and agricultural planning. The future ANGA system is also mentioned, designed to provide high-precision navigation services, particularly for air safety on the continent. This dynamic is supported by European space programs such as Copernicus and Galileo, which are utilized for sustainable development, security, and digital transformation in Africa. Abadie explained that this cooperation aligns with the strategic framework of "Global Gateway," which aims to finance sustainable infrastructure, including in the space sector, consistent with the Afr
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Eco-guards in Gabon are threatening to strike on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, due to up to nine months of unpaid salaries. Sosthène Ndong Engonga, the secretary general of their union, stated on April 20, 2026, that despite repeated appeals, some guards are owed three months' pay, while others have not been paid for nine months. He highlighted the lack of communication from their hierarchy, forcing the union to seek information from the Public Treasury. The eco-guards are appealing directly to the head of state, reminding him of a presidential commitment to integrate National Parks Agency ANPN personnel into the civil service to resolve remuneration issues. If a solution is not found by Tuesday, the guards plan to close all 13 national parks, which Ndong Engonga warned would leave the parks vulnerable to poachers. This potential strike follows similar actions in 2021, 2022, and 2024 over the same demands, underscoring a persistent crisis that is weakening conservation efforts.