President of Gabon Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema (left) with African Development Bank President Sidi Ould Tah
Strengthening ties for Gabon’s development
The President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Sidi Ould Tah, met with Gabonese head of state Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema in Libreville to discuss ways to deepen collaboration between the panafrican institution and the central African nation. The high-level discussions focused on aligning AfDB’s strategic priorities with Gabon’s national development agenda.
Accompanied by the AfDB’s resident representative in Gabon, Nouredine Kane Dia, the Bank’s president reviewed the current portfolio of projects in the country and gathered insights into the government’s top priorities for sustainable growth.
Key development priorities on the table
Gabon’s leadership outlined three main areas requiring urgent attention:
- Water and electricity supply: Improving access to essential services in Libreville and across all provinces.
- Agricultural transformation: Enhancing local production to reduce reliance on food imports and boost food security.
- Infrastructure development: Prioritizing projects with high socio-economic impact for long-term prosperity.
Energizing Gabon’s infrastructure through partnership
The AfDB has committed to supporting large-scale infrastructure projects in collaboration with Gabon’s energy and water utility, Société d’énergie et d’eau du Gabon. One flagship initiative involves financing water supply projects drawing from the Komo River, aimed at securing long-term access to clean water for households and businesses.
The Bank previously funded the Integrated Program for Drinking Water and Sanitation in Libreville (PIAEPAL) with a 200-million-unit-of-account loan, equivalent to roughly 75 billion FCFA. This initiative modernized and expanded the capital’s water network after nearly ten years of neglect, rehabilitating 310 kilometers of pipelines, installing 21,000 new meters, and constructing or renovating key water towers in locations such as Ntoum, Bikélé-Nzong, Alénakiri, and Sotega.
Addressing gaps and setting new goals
Despite these efforts, President Oligui Nguema acknowledged during his June 15 state-of-the-nation address that PIAEPAL fell short of expectations. While praising the strong partnership with the AfDB, he emphasized the need to refine collaboration mechanisms to ensure future projects deliver measurable improvements in public welfare.
The AfDB ranks among Gabon’s top multilateral partners, actively financing initiatives in infrastructure, energy, and agriculture. Moving forward, both parties agreed to prioritize high-impact projects that align with Gabon’s national development vision under the current administration’s leadership.
