Gabon's President, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, has set a target for his government to conclude an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) by May 2026. This directive was communicated during the Council of Ministers on February 26, 2026, where the president emphasized the strategic importance of such an agreement to strengthen the country's credibility with financial and technical partners.
Gabon's approach comes in a context where the country seeks to consolidate its macroeconomic stability and support its economic and social development. An IMF program is seen as a key lever to restore fiscal confidence and secure concessional financing. An IMF mission, led by Aliona Cebotari, visited Libreville from February 25 to March 6, 2026, to collect data necessary for assessing a potential agreement.
President Oligui Nguema specified that the agreement with the IMF should take into account national priorities, including the preservation of projects validated during the presidential election of April 2025, the protection of vulnerable populations, the rationalization of public spending, and responsible debt management. He insisted that resorting to the IMF should not be seen as an abandonment of sovereignty, but rather as a tool serving Gabon's sustainable development.
Gabon is thus committed to following the IMF's recommendations on economic governance, after years of sometimes strained relations. This decision is also part of the efforts of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC) to strengthen regional financial stability. Gabon's last three-year agreement with the IMF covered the period 2021-2023.
Discussions between the IMF and Gabonese authorities also focused on ongoing reforms to improve public financial management and governance. The IMF stressed the need for prudent fiscal and financial policies to preserve macroeconomic stability in Gabon and the region. Concluding an agreement with the IMF by May 2026 would mark an important step in Gabon's efforts to strengthen its economic credibility and attract investment.
