French President Emmanuel Macron began a state visit to Libreville on Sunday, November 23, 2025 , his first since Brice Oligui Nguema came to power . This trip is part of an African tour, following visits to Mauritius and South Africa, and preceding a stop in Angola.

Upon his arrival, Macron was greeted on the tarmac by the current Gabonese president, in a symbolic official atmosphere, marking Paris's willingness to engage in this new political era in Gabon.

During this visit, the French head of state intends to "welcome the completion of the Gabonese transition" and affirm France's support for this phase of renewal. He notably emphasized France's commitment to playing "its proper role," as a friend and partner, while respecting Gabon's sovereignty.

On the economic front, Macron plans to address several areas of cooperation:

-Infrastructure : France wishes to strengthen the partnership to modernize and develop structuring projects in Gabon.

-Education and environment : common priorities are on the agenda to build a sustainable development model based on respect for Gabonese resources.

-Transformation of raw materials : the issue of local valorization of natural resources, such as manganese, is at the heart of the discussions.

Brice Oligui Nguema, for his part, reaffirmed his desire to break with the past: Gabon must move away from a rentier economy to build a more diversified and sustainable future.

This symbolic visit also aims to redefine Franco-Gabonese relations on a modernized and balanced basis, moving away from certain outdated patterns, in a context where France is reaffirming its role without reverting to a posture of interference. Anadolu Agency