Gabon Transitional President General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema met with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace on Monday, launching a three-day official visit focused on economic cooperation and recalibrating relations between Libreville and Paris.
At the heart of the bilateral talks is the signing of three major cooperation agreements, spearheaded by Gabon’s plan to ban the export of unrefined manganese starting in January 2029. As one of the world’s leading producers of the critical mineral, Libreville is moving to force mining firms to process raw materials domestically, aiming to capture higher-value industrial manufacturing on home soil.
Analyst and opinion leader Gaël Koumba Ayouné noted that the move reflects Libreville’s broader push to move past traditional raw-material extraction and secure greater economic returns from its natural resources.
With global demand rising for processed minerals used in green technology and battery production, Gabon’s upcoming export deadline sets a firm timeline for foreign partners to invest in local processing infrastructure.
–ChannelAfrica–
