Gabon: Conclusion

This report provides policy recommendations for Gabon to transition from its current trajectory toward inclusive growth and sustainable development. It emphasizes the need for a successful democratic transition, economic diversification away from oil, and significant investments in human capital and infrastructure to realize the country's potential as an upper-middle-income nation.

• Gabon is at a critical juncture where a return to constitutional rule via democratic elections, scheduled for April 12, 2025, is essential to establish a foundation for evidence-based policy-making and to attract foreign direct investment by restoring investor confidence.
• To reduce overreliance on oil and improve long-term economic resilience, Gabon should prioritize economic diversification by investing in value-added processing industries, sustainable forestry, mining, agriculture, and fisheries, while supporting the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
• Improving human capital requires increased expenditure on health and education, specifically targeting the reduction of school dropout and repetition rates, expanding family planning, and meeting Sustainable Development Goal targets for infant and under-five mortality (12 and 26 deaths per 1000 live births, respectively) by 2030.
• Gabon can enhance its trade and competitiveness in a low-carbon economy by maximizing opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), diversifying into eco-tourism, and scaling up renewable energy production, particularly hydro power.
• Governance improvements should focus on anti-corruption measures, the establishment of independent electoral bodies to prevent post-election unrest, and the continued use of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) framework, which Gabon rejoined in 2021.

APA

Bello-Schünemann, J., & Cilliers, J. (2026). Gabon: Conclusion. Institute for Security Studies. https://futures.issafrica.org/geographic/guide.pdf?geography=GA&topic=05-conclusion

Chicago

Bello-Schünemann, Julia, and Jakkie Cilliers. Gabon: Conclusion. Institute for Security Studies, 2026. https://futures.issafrica.org/geographic/guide.pdf?geography=GA&topic=05-conclusion.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Bello-Schünemann |first1=Julia |last2=Cilliers |first2=Jakkie |title=Gabon: Conclusion |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=31 May 2026 |url=https://futures.issafrica.org/geographic/guide.pdf?geography=GA&topic=05-conclusion |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{belloschnemann2026gabon, author = {Bello-Schünemann, Julia and Cilliers, Jakkie}, title = {{Gabon: Conclusion}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2026}, month = may, url = {https://futures.issafrica.org/geographic/guide.pdf?geography=GA&topic=05-conclusion}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }