Gabon’s public debt reaches record high as growth forecast set at 3% for 2026

The African Development Bank projects Gabon’s economy to grow by 3 % in 2026, driven by construction, agriculture (especially palm‑oil and poultry), industry and services. It expects a current‑account surplus of 1.1 % of GDP in 2026 turning into a 2.4 % deficit in 2027, and calls for coordinated domestic and international policy to mobilise resources amid a fragmented global environment.

At the same time, Gabon’s public debt hit an unprecedented 8.78 trillion CFA francs at the end of 2025. External debt stands at about 4.13 trillion CFA francs and internal debt at 4.65 trillion CFA francs. External creditors include bilateral lenders (≈0.76 trillion), commercial lenders (≈0.41 trillion), multilateral institutions (≈1.58 trillion) and international market borrowings (≈1.38 trillion). Internally, regional market financing accounts for roughly 3.45 trillion CFA francs, with bank debt and moratorium debt respectively around 0.44 trillion and 0.76 trillion. The total debt rose by more than 23 % – an increase of 1.65 trillion CFA francs – in a single year, heightening concerns about debt sustainability in an economy still reliant on commodities.