Gabon's national commission meets on border dispute with Equatorial Guinea
via Gabon Review2 min read
Members of Gabon's National Commission on the border dispute with Equatorial Guinea met on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at the Constitutional Court. The meeting, chaired by Dieudonné Aba’a Owono, Vice-President of the Government, and attended by Hermann Immongault, Vice-President of the Government, reaffirmed Gabon's commitment to a negotiated and mutually beneficial resolution for the sensitive issue of Mbanié Island and neighboring islets. This diplomatic process, supported by the African Union, aims to achieve a lasting consensus between Libreville and Malabo. The meeting followed an audience granted by the President of the Republic to Albert Shingiro, the African Union's special envoy, appointed in March to assist both states in implementing the International Court of Justice's ruling from May 19, 2025. Participants reviewed the progress of the case and examined the African Union's mechanisms for preventing and peacefully resolving border disputes. Libreville intends to continue a diplomatic approach emphasizing bilateral dialogue and seeking an acceptable compromise for both parties. Despite the sensitivity of the matter, the National Commission maintains cautious optimism. Gabonese authorities highlight the historical and fraternal relations between Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, stressing the need to preserve sub-regional stability. The objective is to develop a crisis resolution proposal that satisfies both Libreville and Malabo, in a spirit of cooperation and mutual respect
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Gabon's Minister of Public Service, Laurence Ndong, met with her Ivorian counterpart, Anne Désirée Ouloto, in Abidjan on Wednesday, May 6, 2026. The meeting focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation in administrative modernization, digitalization of public services, and training of state agents. Both nations expressed a shared commitment to developing more efficient and citizen-focused administrations. Ndong, accompanied by the Director General of the School of Preparation for Administrative Careers EPCA and the Director General of the African Center for Management and Executive Development CAMPC, discussed public administration reform, digitalizing administrative services, state human resource management, and fostering a performance culture within public administrations. The Gabonese minister praised Côte d'Ivoire's progress in administrative modernization and reaffirmed Gabon's desire, under President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, to build a modern, efficient, and citizen-oriented administration. Discussions also covered cooperation between administrative training structures in both countries, including experience sharing and professionalizing public agents. Ndong conveyed greetings from the Gabonese President to Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara, acknowledging his support for Gabon and commitment to bilateral relations. The ministers also addressed ethics, transparency, and results-oriented public management, emphasizing the need for competence and performance in admini
Gabon's President Oligui Nguema announced a 5% Value Added Tax VAT on construction materials, a measure to be included in the 2026 Amended Finance Law LFR. This decision aims to address the high cost of living, which the President acknowledged remains a significant burden for many citizens despite previous price capping measures. The reduced VAT will apply to essential construction materials such as cement, rebar, sheets, and tiles, directly benefiting households involved in building, renovating, or acquiring property. This 5% rate represents a middle ground, balancing the need to alleviate household expenses with the state's budgetary constraints. A previous total suspension of VAT on certain construction materials in 2025 was halted due to fiscal challenges. The 2026 Initial Finance Law LFI already introduced a 5% reduced rate on several basic food products and on construction work and tourism equipment representing a minimum investment of 300 million FCFA. The extension to common construction materials is intended to support middle and working-class populations. This fiscal adjustment is part of a broader budgetary effort, with the 2026 state budget of 6,358.2 billion CFA francs being constructed from scratch to ensure efficient spending. The President also highlighted the underutilization of a hotline for reporting abusive pricing, urging citizens to use it to help control market behaviors.
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Gabonese President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema and Angolan President João Lourenço co-chaired a signing ceremony for three cooperation agreements in Luanda on Wednesday, May 7, 2026. The agreements, signed during President Nguema's three-day state visit to Angola, cover agriculture and forestry, security and public order, and extradition. These accords aim to strengthen bilateral relations between the two Central African nations, with a focus on diversifying economies and enhancing strategic partnerships in sectors such as oil, tourism, agriculture, and infrastructure. President Lourenço noted that relations between Libreville and Luanda have not yet reached their desired level, advocating for accelerated joint projects and the upcoming third session of the bilateral Joint Commission in Luanda. Both leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to regional stability and African integration, discussing cooperation within the Economic Community of Central African States ECCAS and the Gulf of Guinea Commission, as well as the African Union's Agenda 2063. President Nguema's visit includes economic and military engagements, such as a tour of the Luanda refinery and the Angolan Armed Forces' Higher War School, and a business forum.