Gabon boosts infrastructure with moroccan cement investment deal

In a landmark move for Gabon’s industrial future, Anas Sefrioui, CEO of Ciments de l’Afrique (CIMAF), and Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, Gabon’s transitional president, formalized a €40 million investment agreement on May 20, 2026. The deal targets the modernization of the Owendo cement plant, with a key focus on adding a third production line to meet the surging demand for construction materials driven by the country’s major infrastructure projects.

a strategic shift in corporate governance

The partnership goes beyond mere financial infusion. The Gabonese government is significantly increasing its stake in the local CIMAF subsidiary from 10% to 20%, marking a deliberate step toward asserting greater national oversight. This decision aligns with Libreville’s broader economic strategy, launched in August 2023, which seeks to convert large-scale foreign investments into shared national ventures—a policy positioning Gabon at the forefront of Africa’s resource sovereignty movement.

Morocco’s cement giant pivots toward african growth

For CIMAF, this strengthened collaboration reflects a decisive strategic pivot. Under the leadership of Anas Sefrioui, the company is systematically divesting from Europe, as evidenced by the recent sale of its last French cement plant. With European markets considered saturated and highly competitive, CIMAF is doubling down on Africa, where rapid urbanization and critical infrastructure gaps—from roads and bridges to housing—present vast opportunities for expansion.

Gabon as a model for industrial diversification

This public-private partnership also underscores Morocco’s expanding economic footprint beyond West Africa into Central Africa. For Gabon—a nation traditionally reliant on oil revenues—this collaboration serves as a proving ground for a new industrial diversification model. By blending Moroccan private capital, Gabonese public oversight, and regional integration efforts, the project could set a precedent for balancing economic growth with strategic autonomy in Africa’s evolving energy and construction sectors.