French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Gabon`s capital, Libreville, on a visit aimed at strengthening and renewing the bilateral partnership between France and Gabon, two years after a military coup ended more than five decades of rule by the Bongo family. Macron`s visit is part of an African tour that includes Mauritius and South Africa, before he continues to Angola.
At Libreville airport, Macron was received by Gabonese President Brice Oligui Nguema, the coup leader who ousted Ali Bongo in 2023 and assumed the presidency following a 19-month transitional period, with his election taking place in April. The Élysée Palace stated that Macron’s visit aims to celebrate the completion of the transitional phase and reaffirm France’s support for the new authorities. The Gabonese presidency emphasized that relations with Paris are now based on equality and balanced dialogue, signaling an effort to move beyond the legacy of “Françafrique.”
Unlike some Sahel countries that severed ties with France after a series of coups between 2021 and 2023, Libreville has maintained close cooperation with Paris. The Gabonese authorities renewed the defense agreement with France for an additional two years, with a review planned for early 2026. Meanwhile, the French military presence has significantly declined, from over 1,200 troops in the first decade of the millennium to about 100 currently, focusing on training Gabonese forces and establishing a specialized academy for environmental and natural resource protection, combating illegal hunting and gold mining.
Economically, Gabon still suffers from limited diversification and heavy reliance on oil, despite ranking among the continent’s higher-income countries in terms of per capita GDP, which stood at $8,820 in 2022. Around one-third of the population lives below the poverty line, according to World Bank data.
It is worth noting that during a previous visit to Libreville in March 2023, Macron declared the end of the “Françafrique” era, emphasizing that France aims to be a neutral partner in Africa. Since taking office in 2017, the French president has promoted a new vision for African relations, focusing on engagement with English-speaking countries, prioritizing youth, recognizing historical memory, and fostering balanced economic partnerships.