Gabon: oligui nguema launches agricultural independence battle with 25 billion fcfa

In a candid interview with a weekly magazine on June 24, 2026, President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema took a firm stance against Gabon’s reliance on food imports. The head of state unveiled a detailed and ambitious battle plan, setting a clear goal: restore the country’s agricultural self-sufficiency by 2030.

The starting point is stark, sounding like an admission of past failures. Currently, Gabon imports 80% of what it consumes. The president describes this situation as an outright “aberration.” How did a nation spanning 270,000 km², with exceptional and largely underutilized arable land, end up in this position?

To reverse the trend, Libreville is now banking on a renewed strong political will and massive investments. The aim is to definitively break with inertia.

The 2027 shock: local meat, milk, and chicken

To make this ambition a reality, the presidency is going on the offensive with concrete short- and medium-term measures. The first component involves structuring the national livestock sector, which will include the massive introduction of 12,000 head of cattle to boost the meat and milk industries.

But the poultry sector is set for a major upheaval. The government has decreed a shock measure: a total ban on importing broiler chickens as of January 1, 2027. To cushion this transition, a robust support program will be deployed to assist local poultry farmers. Simultaneously, the government plans to systematically develop food crops in each of the country’s provinces, ensuring every region contributes to the food war effort.

25 billion fcfa for human capital

Because good intentions alone are not enough, this transition will rely on training in new farming technologies and unprecedented financial support. Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema announced the creation of a special fund of 25 billion CFA francs within the Bank for Commerce and Entrepreneurship of Gabon (BCEG). This financial lever will be entirely dedicated to farmers, poultry farmers, and fishermen.

“Gabon has the means to feed itself. What was missing was political will and investment. We are putting both on the table,” the president declared.

The ultimate ambition is staggering: reduce Gabon’s food dependency by 50% by 2030. A titanic challenge that, if met, will durably transform the country’s economy and sovereignty.