The Gabonese government has initiated a series of budget conferences in Libreville to lay the groundwork for the 2027 draft finance bill. This initiative, announced through an official statement, marks a critical phase in the budget preparation process.
These conferences, structured into two distinct segments, follow the guidelines set by Circular No. 000245/PR/SG dated March 31, 2026. The first phase, dubbed the ministerial session, will take place from July 14 to 17, while the second phase, focusing on technical assessments, is scheduled for July 20 to 24 within sectoral ministries.
During the technical phase, key stakeholders including ministry program managers, state operators, and officials from the General Directorate of Budget and the General Commissariat for Planning and Development will convene. Their discussions will center on validating revenue forecasts, assessing expenditure sustainability, and identifying public administration financing needs.
The goal is to craft a budget that is transparent, feasible, and sustainable, aligning with the government’s drive to boost public revenue mobilization and enhance spending efficiency amid economic challenges.
The deliberations are rooted in the 2026-2030 National Growth and Development Plan (PNGD), alongside insights from the June 27 budget orientation debate and parliamentary discussions on the 2026 revised budget. They also reflect commitments made during the January 22, 2026, ECCAS extraordinary heads-of-state summit in Brazzaville.
Budget priorities will reflect the directives outlined by President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema in his June 15, 2026, State of the Nation address to Parliament.
For 2026, the revised state budget was trimmed to 5.495 trillion CFA francs from an initial 6.358 trillion, a reduction of 863 billion, reflecting tighter revenue projections and austerity measures in public spending.
The 2026 budget prioritized infrastructure investments, social policy enhancements, and fiscal consolidation amid ongoing economic and institutional transitions.
Thierry Minko, Minister of Economy, emphasized that the outcomes of these conferences must align the 2027 budget with the 2027-2029 macroeconomic and fiscal framework while advancing the nation’s strategic priorities.
