Economy

Although it remains deeply influenced by its historical ties to Europe, Gabon has strived in recent years to broaden its economic and diplomatic partners. France remains one of the country’s closest trading partners and also one of its largest investors. With several emerging economic powers from elsewhere in Asia and Africa playing a bigger...

While the Economic Community of Central African States (Communauté Économique et Monétaire de l’Afrique Centrale, CEMAC) has a functioning monetary union as well as a range of regional financial institutions and bloc-wide economic policies in place, progress towards greater economic integration has faced a number of significant challenges....

CEMAC countries have to face major challenges with regards to their economic and political situations. On the security side, the political upheaval in the Central African Republic and the development of terrorism along CEMAC borders, notably from Boko Haram, is threatening the entire region and, consequently, the capacity to attract investment.

Situated on Africa’s Gulf of Guinea and bordered by a host of low- and lower-middle-income economies, Gabon is part of a select grouping of upper-middle-income countries in sub-Saharan Africa. This is in large part due to it being endowed with substantial natural resources, including oil, metal and mineral reserves, alongside fertile soil and a...