Gabon’s President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema is set to visit France for three days beginning July 20, focusing primarily on discussions related to manganese mineral processing and the future of a French military base in Libreville. The visit marks Oligui Nguema’s second official trip to France since assuming power following a 2023 coup that ended the Bongo family’s 55-year rule. He secured a strong electoral mandate in April 2025 with nearly 95 percent of the vote.
Oligui Nguema will be accompanied by business leaders and government officials during his meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron. According to Gabon’s presidency spokesman Théophane Nzame-Nze Biyoghe, the visit will serve as an opportunity to follow up on agreements reached between the two countries in Libreville last November. The agenda includes formal diplomatic discussions as well as an engagement with members of the Gabonese diaspora residing in France.
A key economic focus of the talks will be the local processing of manganese, a strategic mineral extensively used in steel manufacturing. Gabon ranks among the world’s leading manganese producers and announced plans last year to prohibit raw manganese exports starting in 2029, aiming to develop a domestic processing sector. The French presidential office indicated a mutual interest in establishing a timeline for processing a portion of Gabon’s manganese output locally.
France maintains a military presence in Gabon through a base in Libreville, although troop numbers have declined significantly over recent years from over 1,000 to roughly 100 soldiers amid broader restructuring of French forces in Africa. Gabon is expected to assume control of the base, intending to use the site to train its defence and security personnel. The French government expressed its readiness to support Gabon in aligning military arrangements with its priorities.
The relationship between France and Gabon holds significance as French influence has been diminishing across francophone Africa, particularly in the Sahel, but Libreville remains a key partner for Paris. However, concerns have emerged regarding the state of political freedoms in Gabon. Internet and social media access have been restricted since February 17, and the country’s primary opposition leader has been imprisoned since April on charges including fraud and breach of trust, attracting criticism from human rights observers.