
In Libreville, thirty forest and judicial agents enhanced their investigation and criminal procedure skills from April 14 to 16, 2026, as part of the CAFI 2 project, to better combat environmental crime. The training, organized by the Ministry of Water and Forests with technical support from The Nature Conservancy TNC and funding from the Central African Forest Initiative CAFI, focused on strengthening competencies in investigation, judicial procedures, and evidence management. The objective was to improve the effectiveness of field missions and ensure the legal soundness of cases submitted to the courts. Christiana Assambou, Deputy Public Prosecutor at the special prosecutor's office, emphasized the importance of formal rules in forest offense investigations, noting that non-compliance can invalidate procedures. She also highlighted the need for reinforced national and international cooperation due to the often cross-border nature of these offenses. Commandant Mapaha Eurol Luce, Head of the Regulation and Litigation Department at the Directorate General of Forests, acknowledged existing shortcomings among many judicial police officers in drafting reports and conducting field investigations. The training aims to address these deficiencies, preventing procedural invalidation in court. Key topics included methods for observing and suppressing offenses, legal qualification of facts, and mandatory mentions in official reports. This initiative marks a significant step in professio
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Must ReadGabon has assumed the presidency of the World Bank's Africa Group II, a strategic position now held by the Minister of Planning, Louise Pierrette Mvono. This appointment, effective April 16, 2026, is seen as a diplomatic victory for Gabon, placing a technocratic profile at the forefront to advocate for the interests of 23 African countries amidst a challenging international economic landscape. The handover ceremony formalized this transition, occurring at a critical time for African economies facing rising financing costs and persistent global crises. This move enhances Gabon's visibility and influence in international negotiations concerning development financing and allows Libreville to play a more significant role in shaping policies that support African economies, particularly regarding access to concessional financing and debt management. Louise Pierrette Mvono's designation highlights a deliberate choice for a technocratic leader, with expectations for her to provide concrete solutions to the economic and structural challenges faced by member countries. She succeeds Ilyas Moussa Dawaleh, Djibouti's Minister of Economy and Finance. The new president has outlined clear priorities, including youth employment, increased support for small states, climate action, strengthening multilateralism, and improved coordination between the IMF and the World Bank. Supported by Vice-Governor Thierry Minko, she aims to leverage this presidency to achieve tangible results for member count
Must ReadAli Akbar Onanga Y'Obegue, Secretary-General of the PDG and a law professor at Omar Bongo University, has analyzed the arrest of former Prime Minister Alain-Claude Bilie-By-Nze, concluding that the procedure is legally flawed. Based on a statement from the Ensemble pour le Gabon EPG party, of which Bilie-By-Nze is president, Onanga Y'Obegue identified three significant legal issues. First, he noted the apparent absence of a judicial warrant for the arrest carried out by the Directorate General of Research DGR. He stated that an arrest by DGR agents without a clear judicial warrant for a common financial dispute would constitute an arbitrary arrest. Second, he argued against the personal imputation of facts, explaining that debts incurred during the 2008 Fรชte des cultures, a public service mission, were state commitments, not personal liabilities of the minister. Administrative law dictates that public officials cannot be held personally responsible for debts arising from their official duties. Third, Onanga Y'Obegue highlighted the issue of prescription, as the events date back to 2008. He noted that the Gabonese Penal Procedure Code sets a ten-year limitation period for misdemeanors, and OHADA law, applicable in Gabon, provides for five years for commercial claims. In both cases, the deadline has been significantly exceeded, making an arrest procedure in 2026 for 2008 events, without an established interrupting act, legally baseless. Beyond the legal aspects, Onanga Y'Obegue
Must ReadAlain-Claude Bilie-By-Nze, former Prime Minister, was placed under a detention order on Thursday evening, April 16, 2026, and will spend the night in prison. He was taken into custody 48 hours after his arrest outside his home. Bilie-By-Nze is being prosecuted for alleged fraud and abuse of trust in a case involving 5 million CFA francs that dates back 18 years. He appeared before the investigating judge of the Libreville Court of First Instance and will be held at "Sans-Famille," the Libreville prison. His lawyers were not present for the first hour of his appearance, arriving an hour after proceedings began. The investigating magistrate opted for preventive incarceration rather than release under judicial supervision. The case's longevity is attributed to the plaintiff's verbal re-initiation of her claim about a year ago, which, if proven, would interrupt the statute of limitations. The 5 million CFA francs reportedly originated from contributions by activists of the National Rally of Lumberjacks RNB party, including the plaintiff, to fund operations when public treasury funds were delayed. Bilie-By-Nze, as the organizing committee president, allegedly reassured the plaintiff she would be reimbursed, a promise that was never honored. This incarceration follows Bilie-By-Nze's recent media appearances on international television, where he spoke about daily pressures and threats of imprisonment due to his critical stance against the regime. His associates view this old case as

Gabon's government is intensifying efforts to optimize tax revenue collection. On April 15, 2026, a strategic meeting was held in Libreville, chaired by the government's Secretary-General, Abdu Razzaq Guy Kambogo. The gathering included heads of financial regulatory bodies and tax collection administrations. The primary objective was to enhance coordination among services and improve collection efficiency. Key areas of focus identified were the digitalization of procedures, increased transparency in public fund management, and broadening the tax base. Participants were tasked with collaboratively developing operational solutions tailored to Gabon's economic realities. Following the meeting, a ten-day deadline was set for submitting concrete proposals to the government. Abdu Razzaq Guy Kambogo emphasized the need for viable, coherent, and context-appropriate solutions that ensure fairness and protect both consumers and economic operators. This tight deadline reflects the authorities' desire for rapid, tangible results amid growing pressure on public finances. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to improve financial governance, aiming to increase internal resources while continuing to control public spending. Concerned administrations are encouraged to integrate innovative, particularly technological, solutions to modernize collection mechanisms. This approach is expected to continue through further working sessions to establish a sustainable reform of the Gabonese ta