On May 20, 2026, a significant investment agreement was finalized at the Palais Rénovation in Libreville. Anas Sefrioui, Chairman and CEO of Ciments de l’Afrique (CIMAF), and Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, Gabon’s Transitional President, sealed a €40 million deal. This substantial financial injection is earmarked for the modernization of the Owendo plant and the integration of a crucial third production line. This expansion is essential to address the rapidly increasing local demand for construction materials, a direct result of the nation’s ambitious infrastructure projects.
Beyond the industrial implications, this operation signals a fundamental shift in the company’s governance. The Gabonese government has expressed its intent to increase its shareholding in the local subsidiary to a significant 20%. This move builds upon an initial 10% capital entry completed in December 2025. For Libreville, this escalating equity stake aims to secure direct oversight and aligns with the broader economic doctrine implemented since August 2023, which seeks to transform substantial foreign investments into national co-ownerships.
From CIMAF’s perspective, this reinforced partnership coincides with the culmination of its global strategic reorientation. Anas Sefrioui’s group is progressively disengaging from the European market, a strategy underscored by the simultaneous announcement of the divestment of its last cement plant in France. Facing a European market deemed mature and subject to intense pressures, the Moroccan cement giant is strategically redirecting its capital towards the African continent, where the need for urbanization and fundamental infrastructure—such as roads, bridges, and housing—remains immense.
This transaction also highlights an evolution in Morocco’s economic influence. Historically, major Moroccan private operators have been more concentrated in West Africa; however, they are now strategically structuring their presence in Central Africa, focusing on key industrial sectors. For Gabon, whose economy has traditionally relied on oil revenues, this public-private alliance serves as a crucial testing ground for a new model of industrial diversification, effectively combining Moroccan private capital, Gabonese public oversight, and regional economic integration.