Gabon has terminated its Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (APPD) with the European Union (EU), which officially expired on June 28, 2026, without being renewed.
First signed in 2007, the deal was renewed several times, most recently in 2021. Over five years, it reportedly brought in 17 billion CFA francs for the Gabonese state.
The decision not to renew was made during the Council of Ministers in June 2025 under the direction of transitional President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, marking a significant rupture after 19 years of fisheries cooperation with the EU.
For Libreville, the amount was considered insufficient compared to the value of catches in Gabonese waters. The government criticises the low revenue generated by the agreement.
The Gabonese government now intends to prioritise local tuna processing to create more jobs, attract industrial investments, and generate added value within the country.
