Gabonese lawyer questions legality of scholarship cuts to France

The Director General of the National Agency for Gabonese Scholarships ANBG announced this measure on July 29, citing increased living costs for foreign students in France. Ongotha questions the legal basis of this decision, the authority of the body that made it, its application to current scholarship holders, and its compliance with the principle of equality. Ongotha points out that despite her research, no official legal text from the ANBG has been found to precisely identify the act excluding France as an eligible destination.

She notes that the current scholarship regime, specifically Decree No. 0115/PR/MESRIT of February 21, 2025, still provides for higher education abroad, without excluding France. This raises questions about the legal foundation for the ANBG's decision. The lawyer also questions the competence of the decision-making body, as the ANBG's organizational structure allocates responsibilities among various organs, including a Technical Scholarship Commission for such matters.

She emphasizes that in administrative law, a decision can be challenged if made by an unauthorized authority. Ongotha urges the ANBG to publish the text outlining this new policy and identify the authority that adopted it. Furthermore, Ongotha highlights concerns about the scope of the measure, as