Gabon moves to prioritize African food imports to cut dependence

President Brice Oligui Nguema instructed Gabon's government to give preference to food imports from African countries in public procurement. The move targets the country's heavy reliance on external food supplies – the World Bank estimates that 80 % of Gabon's food is imported while agriculture accounts for only 5.2 % of GDP. Between 2021 and 2023, Gabon spent roughly 542 billion CFA francs on food imports, contributing to high living costs and social discontent.

The directive aligns with the African Continental Free Trade Area’s goal of lowering prices by sourcing regionally. Officials aim to halve the food‑import bill and achieve self‑sufficiency in staple products by 2029. However, the policy faces challenges: the 2026 budget reduces the agriculture ministry’s allocation by more than half, leaving just 1.8 % of total credits for the sector, and regional supply chains may be limited by logistics and higher transport costs. Success will depend on investments in seeds, rural roads, storage and irrigation, as well as on the capacity of neighboring producers such as Cameroon and the Congo.