On June 2, 2026, Pacôme Kossi, the Minister of Agriculture, presented to lawmakers a comprehensive program valued at 700 billion Central African Francs (FCFA). This initiative aims to propel the nation towards self-sufficiency in poultry meat, coinciding with the January 1, 2027, cessation of frozen chicken imports. Gabon currently consumes approximately 65,000 tonnes of chicken annually, according to figures from the FAO, with this import ban set to halt the entry of 65,000 tonnes of frozen chicken each year. Economist Louis Ndong emphasized the clear objective: “Achieving food sovereignty to alleviate household expenses.”

UN ÉCOSYSTÈME À CONSTRUIRE

Hervais Omva, president of the Zambia-based NGO IDRC AFRICA and an expert in poultry value chains, believes the project’s success hinges on establishing a robust, integrated production system. “The President has set the direction. It is now up to sector stakeholders to construct the upstream and downstream ecosystem,” he explained. A crucial prerequisite, in his view, is the domestic production of maize and soy, which constitute nearly 75% of poultry feed. “One of the primary challenges will be to locally produce millions of tonnes of these cereals,” he stressed. Job creation also stands as a significant consideration. “Some automated abattoirs can process up to 60,000 chickens daily with only about twenty employees. If the goal also includes reducing youth unemployment, a model tailored to local realities must be prioritized,” he added.

LE GABON MISE SUR LES INVESTISSEURS AFRICAINS

Libreville is actively seeking to mobilize investors from across the African continent to support this transformative endeavor. Following an appeal made by President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema at the Kigali summit in mid-May 2026, several African operators were welcomed at the Presidential Palace on June 9. The government has confirmed that the necessary technical framework is in place and an investment bank is already operational. A senior official within the Ministry of Agriculture affirmed that “the various mechanisms will be progressively rolled out.” In Port-Gentil, G.M., a breeder for a decade overseeing an operation of 10,000 chickens, views this policy as a substantial opportunity. “The potential is real, but scaling up to industrial production demands considerable investment,” he confided.

UNE FILIÈRE À STRUCTURER

The global disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine served as stark reminders of importing nations’ vulnerability to international markets. Gabon is now determined to bolster its domestic production, thereby mitigating this reliance. Statistical data from the Directorate General of Statistics indicates that 54.6% of the Gabonese population is under 26 years old. Youth unemployment rates are estimated to be between 30% and 38%, according to the UNDP. Consequently, developing the poultry sector represents a vital agricultural, economic, and social imperative. Hervais Omva, in fact, conveyed a message to young Africans: “The President has paved the way. Investors are ready.”