The Gabonese presidency has confirmed that the follow-up to agreements finalized in Libreville during President Emmanuel Macron’s last visit in November 2025 will dominate discussions between the two heads of state during the Paris meeting on July 20, 2026.

For months, Libreville has been pushing for local processing of manganese, currently mined by Comilog—a subsidiary of French group Eramet. Authorities have set a firm deadline: by January 2029, all exported ore must undergo initial processing within Gabon. While France supports the principle of local transformation, negotiations are underway to ease the timeline, deemed too rigid given the scale of investments required, particularly in industrial and energy infrastructure. “This is the core purpose of the President’s official visit,” emphasized a spokesperson for President Brice Oligui Nguema late last week.

Libreville’s water supply and military base negotiations

Another critical topic on the agenda is the water supply agreement signed with Suez one year ago. Despite commitments totaling 120 billion CFA francs, progress has stalled. France is urging adherence to the agreed terms.

On the military front, Gabon is pushing for greater disengagement by French forces, including the transfer of ownership of the Camp de Gaulle—formerly a French military base—and its renaming. Long-term cooperation is expected to focus solely on training initiatives. Meanwhile, Libreville is actively diversifying its international partnerships, engaging with countries like China, Turkey, and India, though France remains Gabon’s primary diplomatic ally.

Gabon’s debt crisis takes center stage

Though not officially on the formal agenda, Gabon’s mounting debt—exceeding 70% of GDP—will inevitably surface during talks. Libreville has launched a comprehensive audit, with results expected by the end of July. Concurrently, Gabon is seeking a new program with the IMF, though as of late June, certain required documents had not yet been submitted.

France, which currently chairs the Paris Club—an organization dedicated to resolving debt crises for vulnerable nations—supports a negotiated financial solution. The debt burden raises concerns across the subregion, threatening currency stability and potentially destabilizing the CFA franc.