In a tough interview published on 24 June 2026, President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema laid down the law against Gabon’s heavy reliance on food imports. The head of state revealed a detailed and highly ambitious battle plan with a clear target: restoring the country’s agricultural self-sufficiency by 2030.
The starting point is stark and reads like an admission of failure after decades of inaction. Currently, Gabon imports 80% of what it consumes. The president calls this situation an outright “aberration.” How could a country covering 270,000 square kilometres, blessed with exceptional but largely unused arable land, have reached such a point?
To reverse the trend, Libreville is now betting on a renewed political will and massive investments. The goal is to break decisively with the old inertia.
The 2027 shock: meat, milk and local chicken
To turn this ambition into reality, the presidency is going on the offensive with concrete short- and medium-term measures. The first step involves structuring the national livestock sector by introducing 12,000 head of cattle to boost the meat and milk value chains.
But it is the poultry sector that is about to face a genuine earthquake. The government has announced a shock measure: a total ban on imported broiler chicken as of 1 January 2027. To cushion this withdrawal, a robust support programme will be deployed to help local poultry farmers. At the same time, authorities plan to systematically develop food crops in every province, ensuring each region contributes to the food war effort.
25 billion FCFA for human capital
Because good intentions are not enough, this transition will rely on training in new agricultural 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 keepers and fishers.
“Gabon has the means to feed itself. What was missing was political will and investment. We are putting both on the table,” the president stressed.
The ultimate ambition is staggering: reduce Gabon’s food dependency by 50% by 2030. A titanic challenge that, if achieved, will permanently transform the country’s economy and sovereignty.
