• IMF mission begins in Gabon to review finances
• Public debt reached 72.5% of GDP in 2024
• Talks may lead to new IMF-supported programme

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation began a mission in Libreville on Wednesday, Feb. 25, to review Gabon’s public finances and lay the groundwork for broader cooperation with the country.

The team, led by Aliona Cebotari, will conduct an in-depth assessment of Gabon’s economic and financial position using updated data. As part of the review, the authorities are expected to provide detailed records on public revenue, operating and investment spending, and comprehensive public debt data.

“The mission will focus on collecting and analysing macroeconomic and fiscal data to assess recent economic performance and strengthen the cooperation framework between Gabon and the IMF,” the Economy and Finance Ministry, which also oversees debt, privatization and efforts to curb the high cost of living, said.

Public debt under scrutiny

Public debt will be a key focus of the mission. According to the World Bank, Gabon’s debt exceeded the 70% ceiling set by the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) in 2024, reaching an estimated 72.5% of GDP, up from 70.6% a year earlier.

The World Bank projects the ratio could rise to 80.2% in 2026 and 86.1% in 2027, driven by expansionary fiscal policy aimed at financing development projects.

To strengthen fiscal oversight, Gabon launched an integrated public financial management system (SIGFiP) in January 2026. The platform centralizes government revenue and spending, enables real-time monitoring of collections, identifies payment delays and flags discrepancies between forecasts and actual revenue.

Toward a new IMF programme

Gabon hopes the mission will pave the way for a new IMF-supported programme. Such an arrangement could bolster its credibility with donors and investors while supporting reforms to improve budget transparency and revenue mobilization.

Gabon’s previous agreement with the IMF, concluded in August 2021 under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF), was suspended in 2023 after the third review failed amid implementation shortcomings.

Sandrine Gaingne