Gabon’s president meets BAD chief to drive economic growth

Gabon’s transitional leader, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, welcomed the President of the African Development Bank (BAD), Sidi Ould Tah, in Libreville this week. The high-level meeting focused on deepening cooperation between Gabon and the pan-African financial institution to unlock new investment opportunities.

The BAD delegation, led by its president, included Nouredine Kane Dia, the institution’s resident representative in Gabon. During the discussions, they reviewed the current portfolio of BAD-funded projects in the country and aligned them with Gabon’s development priorities under President Oligui Nguema’s leadership.

Critical infrastructure and food security take center stage

Key national priorities discussed included expanding access to clean water and reliable electricity across Libreville and other regions. Agriculture also emerged as a strategic sector to reduce food imports and move toward self-sufficiency.

Regarding water and energy, the BAD reaffirmed its commitment to funding large-scale infrastructure projects in partnership with Gabon’s national utility, Société d’énergie et d’eau du Gabon. One major initiative involves strengthening water supply from the Komo River to meet growing demand.

The BAD has already supported the Integrated Program for Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation in Libreville (PIAEPAL) with a 200 million Unit of Account loan, equivalent to approximately 75 billion FCFA. The initiative aimed to modernize and expand Libreville’s water network, which had deteriorated over nearly a decade. Work included rehabilitating 310 kilometers of pipelines, installing 21,000 new water meters, and constructing or renovating water towers in Ntoum, Bikélé-Nzong, Alénakiri, and Sotega.

Reassessing past efforts and planning future investments

In his recent state of the nation address, President Oligui Nguema acknowledged that PIAEPAL did not fully deliver the expected outcomes. Despite this, he emphasized the strong partnership between Gabon and the BAD, expressing a desire to strengthen collaboration further.

The Gabonese government is now seeking to better structure its engagements with the BAD, focusing investments on sectors that directly improve living standards. Both parties agreed to prioritize high-impact socio-economic projects that align with the national development vision outlined by President Oligui Nguema since taking office.

The BAD remains one of Gabon’s key multilateral partners, actively financing projects in infrastructure, energy, and agriculture to support sustainable growth.