Libreville Staff College graduates 60 officers from 11 African countries to enhance regional security
via Gabon Review5 min read
The Libreville Staff College EEML recently celebrated the graduation of its 34th class, comprising 60 officers from 11 African nations. The ceremony, held on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, marked the culmination of 43 weeks of intensive training. The graduating class was sponsored by the Vice-President of the Government, Hermann Immongault, and included, for the first time, an officer from the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, along with five female officers from Gabon, Benin, and Madagascar. The curriculum combined theoretical instruction, operational planning, and field exercises, including immersion at the Gabonese Defense Forces Combat Training Center CEC-FOGA in Malibé. Graduates also earned a professional Master's degree in partnership with Omar Bongo University. Since its establishment 24 years ago, the EEML has trained over 1,590 African officers, fostering military cooperation between Gabon and France and strengthening Africa's defense capabilities. Dignitaries present, including the Ambassador, High Representative of the French Republic, and the Minister of State, Minister of National Defense, Brigitte Onkanowa, emphasized the importance of this training for addressing continental security challenges and promoting a common strategic culture. Vice-President Immongault highlighted the critical link between a strong defense and economic development, urging the graduates to embody the spirit of cooperation forged at Libreville as ambassadors of collective security in A
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