The Burkinabè construction giant Ebomaf has rapidly climbed to the top of Gabon’s public procurement rankings since the country’s political transition began in August 2023. Within less than three years, the company founded by businessman Mahamadou Bonkoungou has secured contracts worth more than 700 billion Central African francs across Gabon—an unprecedented volume for a single foreign operator in the nation. The group’s portfolio now includes critical road networks, the Andem Airport expansion, and the sprawling Libreville 2 administrative capital project, all under the oversight of transitional President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema.
Dominance in Gabon’s public procurement landscape
The speed and scale of contract awards to Ebomaf have raised eyebrows. Nearly every major infrastructure announcement linked to the transition has designated the same contractor, often without clear public disclosure of competitive bidding processes. The projects span hundreds of kilometers of road construction, airport infrastructure upgrades, and a large-scale urban development aimed at easing congestion in Libreville.
Such concentration of contracts in the hands of a single operator raises long-standing concerns about fiscal dependency. When one company handles design, execution, and even pre-financing for multiple projects, the government’s financial flexibility diminishes significantly. Gabon’s strained oil revenues and elevated external debt—already under scrutiny by international financial institutions—add pressure to ensure responsible spending and transparent accountability.
Budget transparency gaps persist
While Ebomaf reports 700 billion FCFA in contracts, Gabonese authorities have not released a consolidated public statement verifying this figure. The Ministries of Public Works, Public Accounts, and the National Audit Office have yet to publish a unified dashboard detailing the state’s contractual commitments to Ebomaf. The lack of a centralized financial tracking system obscures the true flow of funds—whether direct payments from state resources, bank pre-financing, or potential compensation mechanisms.
This opacity fuels questions about fiscal pathways. Which agencies approve disbursements? Which financial institutions manage the funds? What sovereign guarantees back the pre-financing arrangements? In line with transparency standards set by the International Monetary Fund and the African Development Bank, regular publication of contract values and disbursements is expected. Yet, while inauguration ceremonies receive prominent media coverage, institutional clarity remains conspicuously absent.
Assessing the pre-financing model
Ebomaf has built its regional reputation on an integrated model combining technical execution with bank-backed pre-financing, often secured through West African financial institutions. This approach offers immediate relief to cash-strapped governments by enabling rapid project launches without upfront fiscal strain. However, repayment obligations are deferred to future budgets, with the total cost contingent on negotiated financial terms.
This model has helped the group gain a foothold in Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, and Senegal. Yet it has also sparked recurring debates over interest rates, potential cost overruns, and construction quality. Replicating this model on a large scale in Gabon—amid a transitional political context—demands rigorous scrutiny of financial clauses and oversight mechanisms.
For Gabon’s financial partners, the stakes extend beyond operational performance. They hinge on the credibility of the transitional government’s fiscal trajectory and the long-term sustainability of debt servicing following upcoming elections. A consolidated public report on Ebomaf-related commitments would signal a strong commitment to transparency, especially as multilateral lenders reassess their exposure to Gabon’s sovereign risk.
Moreover, the concentration of major infrastructure contracts in the hands of one operator raises concerns for Gabon’s domestic construction sector. Local firms, often confined to subcontracting roles, struggle to scale up due to limited access to high-value projects. Without clearer transparency on Ebomaf’s local financial arrangements, questions linger about accountability and equitable industry development.
