Gabon suspends tax exemptions to address revenue losses

The Gabonese government has implemented a temporary suspension of tax and customs exemptions, effective September 8, 2026. This measure aims to address a cumulative revenue loss estimated at 283.277 billion FCFA through the end of July, with 209.239 billion FCFA attributed to customs and 74.038 billion FCFA to tax services.

Authorities are launching an audit covering the 2023-2026 period to evaluate the effectiveness of previously granted incentives. The government intends to verify whether these exemptions have met their intended economic goals, such as job creation, industrial support, and investment, or if they have merely become unjustified privileges. The audit will compare the commitments made by beneficiaries against actual results on the ground.