Opened this Monday, June 8, 2026, at the Omar Bongo Ondimba Congress Palace, the 2026 session of the strategic partnership dialogue between Gabon and the European Union marks a pivotal moment in the relationship between the two entities. Vice-President of the Government, Hermann Immongault, representing the Head of State, and Cécile Abadie, the European Union Ambassador to Gabon, presided over the opening. Two years after their 2024 meetings and in the context of the Fifth Republic, established following the presidential election of April 2025, Libreville is committed to reinforcing its institutional stability and fostering a cooperation model centered on sustainable co-investment. Discussions, involving EU ambassadors and members of the Gabonese government, addressed critical areas including political reforms, economic outlooks, governance, environmental protection, and regional and multilateral collaboration.
“We have definitively concluded the Transition phase and, since the presidential election of April 12, 2025, embarked on a new institutional dynamic characterized by the establishment of the Fifth Republic,” stated Hermann Immongault during his address. He emphasized that “Gabon intends to progressively shift from a logic primarily based on aid and support to a structured economic partnership, founded on investment, local value creation, skills transfer, and human capital development.” In this evolving framework, the Samoa Agreement now serves as the new cornerstone for this revitalized cooperation.
Investment and ecological transition
The Vice-President also reiterated that safeguarding Gabon’s rich natural heritage is a global imperative. He asserted that “the preservation of this wealth is not merely a national policy. It constitutes a global challenge that necessitates a fairer acknowledgment of the efforts undertaken by countries actively protecting it.” He advocated for “the reinforcement of international financing mechanisms for the ecological transition,” aiming to harmonize economic growth, industrialization, and environmental preservation. Furthermore, Gabon reaffirmed its steadfast commitment to multilateralism, regional stability in Central Africa, and ensuring security in the Gulf of Guinea.
For her part, the European Union Ambassador to Gabon, Cécile Abadie, commended the high quality of the ongoing dialogue between the two sides. She deemed it essential to “adapt the cooperation tools between Gabon and the European Union,” focusing on “a renewed partnership” that addresses new shared priorities. Expressing her openness to “free exchanges,” the European diplomat reaffirmed the EU’s dedication to supporting Gabon in a more balanced cooperation, driven by investments, reforms, and tangible outcomes beneficial to both partners.
