Oligui Nguema: A breakthrough or continuity for Gabon? [Industry Africa]

This week on Industry Africa:

Gabon enters a brand contemporary political era with a highlight on financial diversification priorities, that contains Mr. Jean Gaspard Ntoutoume Ayi, spokesperson for President Oligui. In Uganda, the invasion of imported merchandise threatens native agriculture. At closing, the fall in oil costs shakes the African economies dependent on dark gold.

Gabon: Challenges and Ambitions under the Presidency of Brice Oligui Nguema

Gabon is embarking on a major political transition with the election of Accepted Brice Oligui Nguema, marking the wreck of over 50 years of the Bongo household’s rule. This contemporary era generates stable expectations, in particular referring to governance, job introduction, and financial diversification.

Currently, Gabon stays closely dependent on oil, a sector that represents about 38% of GDP and more than 70% of exports. Mr. Jean Gaspard Ntoutoume Ayi, spokesperson for President Oligui, explains the govts priorities for the arriving years.

Transition Priorities: Laying Solid Foundations for the Future According to Mr. Ntoutoume Ayi, the first years of the transition will be vital for laying the groundwork for financial model and guaranteeing the country’s steadiness. “The first two years should be devoted to establishing a solid legal framework and a reliable state infrastructure. This will reassure investors and create a business-friendly environment,” he states. He provides that this would perchance doubtless additionally take 5 years to stare tangible outcomes from these reforms. “In the first 24 months, we must eliminate recurring problems such as the energy crisis and water stress. A transparent and secure business climate must be established,” he says.

Economic Diversification: Agriculture as a Key Sector for the Future Gabon’s dependence on oil is a major distress. Mr. Ntoutoume Ayi implies that the govtis specializing in numerous sectors to provoke diversification. “A flagship project of the government is the Bilinga iron mine. For the exploitation of this mine, more than 600 kilometers of railways, a deep-water port, and hydroelectric dams will need to be constructed. This project could generate more than 20,000 jobs,” explains the spokesperson. Agriculture, with its untapped capability, is additionally idea to be one of many president’s priorities. “Gabon has a low population density with only five inhabitants per square kilometer. There is a great opportunity to develop agriculture and encourage young people to settle in this sector,” provides Mr. Ntoutoume Ayi. The model of native processing of uncooked supplies corresponding to wood, iron, and manganese is additionally seen as a key lever to diversify the financial system.

Gabon’s Role in Regional Cooperation Gabon additionally performs a strategic goal in regional cooperation, in particular contained within the ECCAS (Economic Neighborhood of Central African States). Mr. Ntoutoume Ayi recalls that “CEMAC, within ECCAS, is an economic zone that is already functioning very well. Now, we need to expand this dynamic, first facilitating the free movement of people before that of goods.” He believes that Gabon, with its pure resources and strategic geographical residing, can maintain the merit of the AFCFTA (African Continental Free Trade Rental), an initiative that involves economically stable nations corresponding to Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Childhood Employment: A Major Scenario for the Transition Childhood unemployment is a major topic in Gabon, with an unemployment charge estimated at 30%. Mr. Ntoutoume Ayi insists that the tell alone can’t resolve this topic. “The state apparatus will not be able to absorb all the young people looking for a job. It is the private sector that will need to play a central role in job creation,” he explains.

For him, the alignment between working against and market wants is vital. “It is not only about addressing the mismatch between training and market needs, but also about training young people for specific trades. For example, during the transition, it was necessary to train machinery operators in a few months to meet the needs of the construction sector,” he provides.

Concrete Actions Anticipated For Mr. Ntoutoume Ayi, the political transition initiated by the election of Brice Oligui Nguema have to no longer be restricted to guarantees, nevertheless have to translate into concrete actions. “Gabon has many advantages: relative stability, abundant natural resources, and a strategic geographical location. The time has now come to turn these promises into reality and implement deep reforms to modernize the economy and create job opportunities,” he concludes.

Gabon stands at an important turning point. Managing its dependence on oil, diversifying its financial system, and stopping unemployment will be major challenges for President Oligui Nguema. With formidable projects in mining and agriculture and governance reforms, the country would per chance perchance doubtless additionally embark on a real financial transformation. But according to Mr. Ntoutoume Ayi, it’s vital that these reforms are accompanied by concrete, posthaste, and effective actions.

Uganda: Farmers Strangled by Imported Products

In Kampala, the stalls of Nakasero market utter a still story: Ugandan merchandise are being replaced by more cost-effective and more constant Kenyan and Tanzanian imports.

For Benon Kisomose, a farmer, the competitors is unfair: “In Kenya, farmers receive subsidies and can buy fertilizers and equipment on credit.”

Meals imports maintain surged by 18% in one 365 days, surpassing the billion-buck stamp. But for native farmers, the toughest distress comes after the harvest: without roads or chilly storage amenities, a vital portion of the fabricate is misplaced.

“The problem is the lack of local support, not the imports,” says Agnes Kirabo from the Uganda Meals Rights Alliance.

Despite calls to limit imports, President Yoweri Museveni defends the put of residing quo: “Forcing Ugandans to buy more expensive local rice would be punishing them.”

A report by Michael Baleke.

Oil Crisis: Oil-Producing Worldwide locations Tormented by Their Vitality Model

A brand contemporary storm is shaking global markets: in April 2025, the value of extreme oil dropped by more than 20%, reaching its lowest stage in four years. The causes encompass ongoing commerce tensions, exacerbated by Trump administration tariff insurance policies, along with a series of successive financial shocks.

Brent oil has fallen under the serious threshold of $70, threatening the funds balance of several African oil-producing nations.

In Nigeria, the continent’s supreme oil producer, the affect is instantaneous: the funds deficit widens, slowing infrastructure projects and social programs. In Angola, the govtis urgently revising its funds, freezing some model projects. In the meantime, Gabon sees its oil revenues shrink, slowing public investments and forcing a reevaluation of financial priorities.

In the face of this crisis, calls for diversification are intensifying. Agriculture, technology, and renewable vitality: several governments are searching for to originate more resilient economies. Nonetheless, breaking free from oil dependency stays distress, as this helpful resource stays central to nationwide budgets.

In the short term, the distress is to mitigate the social and political shock. In the lengthy inch, this crisis could be the mandatory be-careful call to inch up financial transitions.

Journalist name • Ndea Yoka