Gabon’s President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema welcomed Sidi Ould Tah, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), to Libreville for a strategic meeting aimed at deepening economic cooperation between the institution and the Central African nation.

The high-level discussions, which included Nouredine Kane Dia, AfDB’s resident representative in Gabon, focused on reviewing the bank’s current portfolio in the country and aligning future projects with Gabon’s national development priorities under President Oligui Nguema’s leadership.

Key sectors prioritized for AfDB support

The Gabonese head of state emphasized two critical areas where immediate action is required: ensuring reliable access to clean water and electricity across Libreville and rural regions, and accelerating agricultural transformation to curb food imports and achieve self-sufficiency.

In the energy and water sectors, the AfDB committed to backing large-scale infrastructure projects in partnership with Gabon’s energy and water utility company. A notable focus is enhancing water supply from the Komo River to meet growing demand in urban and peri-urban areas.

Water access project: progress and challenges

The AfDB previously funded the Integrated Program for Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation in Libreville (PIAEPAL) with a €200 million loan—equivalent to approximately 75 billion Central African CFA francs—aimed at modernizing the capital’s aging water infrastructure.

Key achievements included rehabilitating over 310 kilometers of pipelines, installing 21,000 new water meters, and constructing or refurbishing water towers in strategic locations such as Ntoum, Bikélé-Nzong, Alénakiri, and Sotega. Despite these efforts, President Oligui Nguema noted during his state-of-the-nation address that the project has not delivered the expected outcomes in full.

Strengthening partnerships for sustainable growth

The meeting underscored Gabon’s commitment to refining its partnership with the AfDB, ensuring that future investments directly address the most pressing socio-economic needs of its population. Both parties reaffirmed their intent to prioritize high-impact projects that support the government’s broader national development agenda.

The AfDB remains one of Gabon’s leading multilateral partners, actively financing initiatives across infrastructure, energy, and agriculture sectors to drive inclusive growth and resilience.