During the closing session of the Gabon Economic Forum (GEF), Alain‑Claude Kouakoua, who chairs the Federation of Gabonese Enterprises (FEG), drew attention to a critical issue impacting the national economy: the significant outstanding debt owed by the Gabonese State to private businesses.
For several years, this debt has been estimated at 4,340 billion FCFA. However, Mr. Kouakoua expressed his belief that this figure is likely overstated. According to the FEG leader, not all submitted claims warrant validation, as some files are contentious, presenting insufficient or irregular documentation.
Consequently, a collaborative audit will be undertaken, involving a dedicated Task Force and the Ministry of Economy. This essential review aims to meticulously distinguish between verifiable, mutually accepted debt and uncertain claims that will not be honored. No repayments will be processed until this comprehensive audit is concluded. One immediate outcome is already clear: the definitive amount will be lower than the figure that has been widely circulated for months. Furthermore, Alain-Claude Kouakoua indicated that approximately 50% of this debt had already been settled since the CTRI assumed power in August 2023. He noted that the companies that received these payments had not publicly disclosed this, contributing to the ongoing ambiguity surrounding the total amount.
The upcoming framework aligns directly with one of the key recommendations from GEF 2026. This involves prioritizing the clearance of domestic debt, specifically focusing on VAT credits and arrears from public contracts, through an accelerated mechanism, securitization, and cross-offsetting. This initiative will be implemented as part of a national clearance program, complete with a publicly accessible monitoring table and a National Monitoring Committee. This committee will effectively reinstate the former Libreville Club.
While discussions at the GEF also covered the reliability of public statistics and improvements to the CNAMGS, the state’s financial obligations to private sector enterprises undeniably remained a central and dominant topic.
For Gabon’s private sector, this announcement comes at a crucial moment. After years marked by uncertainty, disputes, and prolonged waiting, a clear path has finally emerged for a predictable, negotiated, and thoroughly verified settlement. Many within the business community view this as the fundamental prerequisite for gradually rebuilding mutual trust between the Gabonese State and its enterprises.
