Gabon’s Head of State, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, has embarked on a three-day state visit to France, marking his second official trip abroad since assuming office.

During this high-level engagement, key discussions will focus on strengthening bilateral ties between Libreville and Paris across critical sectors. Priorities include deepening economic cooperation, accelerating infrastructure development, advancing energy transition initiatives, boosting industrialization efforts, and fostering cultural and trade exchanges.

The Gabonese delegation accompanying the president comprises prominent business leaders, senior government officials, and media representatives. High-level meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron are scheduled to take place during the visit.

The transformation of Gabon’s manganese industry will be a central topic of conversation. As one of the world’s leading producers of this mineral, Gabon aims to halt raw ore exports by 2029. The strategy involves developing domestic processing capabilities to maximize value addition and create more local employment opportunities.

Defense cooperation will also feature prominently on the agenda. Both leaders are expected to address the renewal of their military partnership and discuss the future of Camp de Gaulle, France’s military base in Libreville. Following France’s strategic reconfiguration of its military presence in Africa, Gabon’s base has seen a significant reduction in French troops—from approximately 1,200 personnel to around 100 today.