The Gabon Economic Forum (GEF) has brought renewed focus to a pressing economic challenge: the nation’s internal debt to private enterprises. Speaking at the event, Alain‑Claude Kouakoua, President of the Gabonese Business Federation (FEG), highlighted the discrepancies in the estimated 4,340 billion FCFA debt owed to private companies.
Kouakoua emphasized that the official figure may be inflated, as many submitted claims lack proper documentation or legal validity. To address this, a joint audit involving the Economic Task Force and the Ministry of Economy will soon begin. Its goal? To distinguish between verifiable, undisputed debts and those that cannot be substantiated. No repayments will proceed until this critical review is complete, a process expected to reduce the total debt figure significantly.
Already, nearly half of the reported debt—49%—has reportedly been settled since the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions (CTRI) assumed leadership in August 2023. However, many businesses chose not to disclose these payments, leaving the public perception of the debt clouded in uncertainty.
The upcoming debt resolution mechanism aligns with a key recommendation from the 2026 GEF: prioritizing internal debt clearance. This includes settling VAT credits and public contract arrears through accelerated processes such as securitization and cross-offset mechanisms. A dedicated national program will oversee this effort, featuring a published tracking dashboard and a monitoring committee—essentially reviving the former Libreville Club framework.
While discussions at the forum also covered topics like public statistics reliability and reforms at the National Health Insurance Fund (CNAMGS), the debt issue dominated the agenda. For Gabon’s private sector, this initiative signals a long-awaited breakthrough. After years of unresolved disputes and delayed payments, the move toward transparency and structured negotiations is seen as a vital step toward rebuilding trust between the state and private enterprises.