Gabon

The ban on single-use plastic bags has come into force in supermarkets in the municipalities of Akanda, Libreville and Owendo, press reports; the measure comes after a four-month awareness campaign launched on June 23

All the candidacies presented by the movement Reappropriation of Gabon and its Independence for its Reconstruction REAGIR party for the elections scheduled for 27 September have been annulled by the Constitutional Court, AGP reported

National goal of energy independence and universal access within ten years is pursued with new deals, as with Turkish Aksa Energy for design, financing, construction and operation of a 1.000MW gas power plant; the state utility SEEG still poses hurdles

Full membership of Gabon within the Commonwealth has been restored: it had been partially suspended in 2023 out of violation of the democratic principles of the Charter; progress towards fulfilling obligations remains in the agenda of upcoming meetings

2nd One Forest Youth Forum, a pan-African initiative of youth environmental engagement, will open today in Libreville; 1.500 young leaders will discuss "Engaging African Youth in Green Volunteering to Protect Forest Ecosystems and Preserve Biodiversity"

French mining group Eramet has pledged to safeguard over 10.000 jobs in Gabon as the country brings on its plan to ban raw manganese exports from 2029 in a bid to protect local economy

Gabon will stop raw manganese export by 2029 to boost local industry and renew its economy: manganese, with oil and timber, is a top revenue source; in the same economic transformation frame, chicken meat imports will be banned from 2027

Ex-military chief Oligui was sworn in as Gabon president; the former general, who led a coup that ended Bongo family’s 55-year rule, swept elections last month after heading a transition government

Military leader Gen Brice Oligui Nguema has won presidential election with around 90% of the vote according to provisional results; it was the first election in Gabon since the Bongo near-60-year dynasty was overthrown by Nguema in the 2023 coup

The transitional president, General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, will run in the presidential elections on 12 April 2025; among the achievements he has claimed are the construction of 1.969 kilometres of roads and the distribution of 417 taxis

All administrative officials are urged to submit their asset declarations before 20 February to strengthen transparency and fight corruption within the institutions, an initiative of the National Commission for Combating Corruption and Illicit Enrichment

An online influencer has been arrested after disseminating images shot inside a hospital emergency room, plunged into darkness due to a long power outage

The transitional parliament approved a new electoral code, after days of deliberations, allowing members of the security forces and magistrates to participate in elections as candidates; opponents see it as favourable to junta leader Brice Oligui Nguema