The European Union’s local representation in Gabon has communicated its readiness to address concerns raised over recent months in a constructive and transparent manner, as conveyed through a social media publication.
In June 2025, President Brice Oligui Nguema announced his intention to initiate a “unilateral denunciation procedure” for these agreements, characterizing the existing partnership as “profoundly imbalanced” and requiring renegotiation.
The EU affirms its preparedness to negotiate a “new-generation Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement” along with a “mutually beneficial new implementing protocol.” This forward-looking approach aims to establish a “renewed, balanced, and effective framework” for future cooperation.
The Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (SFPA), originally signed in 2007 between the European Union and Gabon, currently permits European vessels to conduct fishing operations within Gabonese waters.
During a cabinet meeting last June, the Gabonese government detailed its rationale for questioning the agreement. President Oligui Nguema specifically highlighted that revenues generated from the current accord do not adequately compensate for the actual value of catches, the significant costs incurred by the state for surveillance and control, nor the losses in added value due to the absence of local processing.
The government further criticized the insufficient investments made by partners towards local development, employment, or strengthening national capacities. It also underscored the heightened risks of overexploitation of fishery resources, exacerbated by a lack of shared transparency and scientific monitoring mechanisms.
The SFPA underwent several renewals, with its latest extension in 2021 for a duration of five years. Its total estimated value stands at approximately 17 billion CFA francs (around 26 million euros).
