Gabon's public debt reaches 8,780 billion FCFA by December 2025, with domestic debt surpassing external obligations
via Gabon Review3 min read
Gabon's public debt reached 8,780 billion FCFA by the end of December 2025, an increase of 1,647 billion FCFA in one year. For the first time, the state owes more to banks within the country and the sub-region than to major foreign creditors. External debt slightly decreased to 4,127.6 billion FCFA, while domestic debt surged by nearly 57% in one year, reaching 4,652.7 billion FCFA. The Directorate General of Debt attributes this increase to two main factors. Firstly, a Task Force on debt officially recognized and validated previously uncounted state debts to companies and suppliers, known as "moratoriums," totaling 758.7 billion FCFA. Secondly, the state borrowed significantly from the regional financial market, raising 2,161.7 billion FCFA in 2025, with over half of this amount coming from banks outside Gabon in neighboring countries. Despite record repayments of 2,565.4 billion FCFA in 2025, including special operations like debt repurchases and Operation MOUELE, payment arrears have accumulated. Operation MOUELE, completed in April 2025, restructured domestic debt repayments, extending the average duration from 2.3 years to 6 years to ease the financial burden. However, payment arrears reached 459.5 billion FCFA, an increase of 193 billion FCFA from the end of 2024. While the state prioritizes repaying major international lenders to maintain confidence, partner countries are owed 155 billion FCFA, foreign suppliers 121.4 billion FCFA, and validated moratorium debts have 1
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Must ReadGabon's decision to suspend social media access in February, in response to content deemed dangerous or destabilizing, resulted in a nationwide internet slowdown. This measure, initially aimed at curbing abuses by a few, has penalized all users, including students, researchers, journalists, and entrepreneurs, who face disruptions to videoconferences, delayed transactions, and lost clients. Despite the restrictions, public institutions and administrations continue to use social media for communication, creating a paradox. The economic cost of a degraded internet is significant, leading to decreased productivity for businesses, delayed orders, and lost opportunities. Modern economies rely on efficient communication tools, and a slow internet hinders growth and diversification efforts. The article argues that a country's attractiveness depends on its infrastructure quality, including digital, and reducing internet access sends a concerning signal to investors, especially in a country already facing high electricity costs. It suggests that a more balanced approach, focusing on proportionate and targeted responses, would be more suitable than a measure with indistinct effects, emphasizing that while security and stability are legitimate concerns, judicial mechanisms and technical reinforcement could address infractions without penalizing the entire population. Ultimately, a slow internet could impede Gabon's ambitions to attract investors, stimulate innovation, and develop its dig
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