Gabon Secures €312 Million Railway Financing and Manganese Deal During President's France Visit
Gabonese President-elect Brice Clothaire Oligui Nguema recently concluded his first state visit to France, resulting in significant agreements aimed at enhancing Gabon's infrastructure and mineral processing capabilities. A key outcome of the visit was a €312 million financing agreement involving Proparco, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and the Société d’Exploitation du Transgabonais. This funding is designated for the third phase of upgrades to the Transgabonese railway, which is crucial for Gabon's economy, contributing approximately 20% to the nation's GDP. The improvements are expected to increase the railway's capacity and reliability, thereby enhancing the transportation of minerals, freight, and passengers. Additionally, Gabon signed a memorandum of understanding with mining company Eramet to locally transform manganese, with a production target set for the end of 2031. Despite these developments, some critics argue that the visit's outcomes were limited, calling for more concrete comm... 
