Gabonese President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema is in France for a State Visit from 19 to 22 July 2026, at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron. The visit aims to give new momentum to the Gabon-France partnership, with discussions focused on investment, economic diversification, defence cooperation, ecological transition, education and innovation. With 110 French companies operating in Gabon, according to the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, France remains a key economic partner for Libreville.
Forty-two years after the last state visit, Gabonese President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema is in France from July 19 to 22, 2026, at the invitation of Emmanuel Macron, to revitalize the bilateral partnership. This visit will focus on strategic issues such as investment, economic diversification, defense, education, and the ecological transition. In its efforts to accelerate industrialization and strengthen local value creation, Gabon seeks to reduce its dependence on raw materials by attracting new investments. France, with 110 companies operating in Gabon and representing approximately 26% of Gabonese imports, remains a key economic partner for the Central African nation.
« Gabon arrives in Paris 42 years later for a state visit. We come for a transparent and equitable partnership, a partnership of sovereignty, a partnership renewed to our liking. I think this state visit will leave its mark, because today we want to discuss matters as equals with France, but also with all other countries. We have diversified our economy, the country is a work in progress, and we have a project for Gabon. There are many infrastructure projects underway: the deep-water port of Kobe-Kobe, for example, which was a project integrated with the Belinga mining operation, and we want to put an end to resource rents and move towards a win-win approach. »
Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, President of the Republic – Gabon
This visit also emphasizes environmental cooperation. The country boasts approximately 88% forest cover, according to the World Bank, making it one of the world’s most forested nations and a key player in biodiversity protection and carbon conservation efforts in the Congo Basin. The World Bank also notes that Gabon remains heavily reliant on a limited number of commodities, with 97% of its exports consisting of oil, manganese, and timber.
The current challenge is transformation. Every generation must fight its own battle. The battle of its youth. Without creating jobs, transformation leads to unemployment. So why not embrace transformation? Why not move towards equitable partnerships? That’s why I’m talking about renewing partnerships. After 42 years, Gabon is coming to Paris to discuss reliable projects.
Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, President of the Republic – Gabon
With a strong French business presence in Gabon’s key sectors, including energy, mining, banking, transport and services, the two countries are seeking to redefine their partnership more than six decades after establishing diplomatic relations in 1960. This State Visit marks a new phase focused on investment, economic transformation and sustainable development, with both sides aiming to build a more strategic partnership adapted to emerging global challenges.
