Gabon opens second-cycle uncac review dialogue in Libreville

Officials pose with UNODC experts on 29 June in Libreville

The deputy head of government, Hermann Immongault, officially launched the country evaluation mission on Monday, 29 June 2026 in Libreville. This event marks the start of the direct dialogue for the second cycle of the review mechanism under the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). The four-day meeting brings together technical experts from various government departments, specialists from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and international partners. Their goal is to assess the progress Gabon has made in preventing and fighting corruption.

Gabon has been a party to the UNCAC since 1 October 2007. The country aims to reinforce ongoing reforms to boost transparency, promote accountability in public administration, and improve the governance of its institutions.

In his official opening speech, Hermann Immongault stressed that fighting corruption is a key driver of economic and social development.

“Public integrity enhances the effectiveness of government action, secures investment, strengthens economic competitiveness, and creates the conditions for sustainable, inclusive and equitable development,” he stated.

This conviction is widely shared by those involved in the evaluation process. Séraphin Ondoumba, the UNODC focal point and a commissioner of the National Commission for the Fight against Corruption and Illicit Enrichment (CNLCEI), noted that this dialogue goes beyond a mere technical exercise.

“I am convinced that this direct dialogue will not only allow us to better appreciate the efforts our country has made, but also strengthen cooperation among States parties and promote best practices in corruption prevention and enforcement,” said Mr. Ondoumba.

This mission is a crucial step in the second review cycle of the Convention, which focuses primarily on preventive measures and the recovery of proceeds of corruption.

The head of the UNODC mission, Mohamed Cherbal, explained: “During this week, the review team will deepen its analysis of Gabon’s anti-corruption framework, with a particular emphasis on implementing the Convention’s provisions on preventive measures and asset recovery.”

The current evaluation runs from 29 June to 1 July 2026. It follows the first review cycle launched in 2010. At that time, Gabon was assessed on Chapters III and IV of the Convention, which cover criminalisation, law enforcement, and international cooperation. That process included an evaluation visit from 21 to 23 April 2015 by experts from Sierra Leone and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.

Today, expectations are equally high. The president of the CNLCEI, Nestor Mbou, sees this dialogue as a chance for continuous improvement of public policies.

“The direct dialogue opening today is an essential stage of the review process. It is not simply about evaluating a legal or institutional framework; it is also about identifying good practices, recognising progress made, measuring remaining challenges, and exploring avenues for improvement that can lead to concrete recommendations to accelerate the implementation of our strategy,” he said.

The mission’s conclusions will help guide future reforms and further strengthen national mechanisms for prevention, oversight, and recovery of illicit assets. The ultimate goal is to build a more honest, efficient, and accountable administration for citizens.