Thursday, July 10, 2025 -At a White House mini-summit on July 9, Gabon’s President Brice Oligui Nguema challenged long-standing perceptions of his nation.
Speaking directly to President Trump, he asserted, “We are not poor countries. We are rich countries when it comes to raw materials.” Emphasizing Gabon’s wealth in minerals and oil, he stressed the need for dynamic global partnerships to boost local processing and infrastructure.
Depending on ambitious energy investments, he warned, “otherwise other countries might come instead of you. ”The response to Nguema’s statement has been immediate and layered.
Investors see opportunity in Gabon’s untapped resources, while policymakers signal support through targeted funding programs such as U.S. backing for a potash mine in Banio seen as a concrete step toward local value creation.
Meanwhile, analysts caution that without energy infrastructure and transparent governance, Gabon risks losing out to rival investors, particularly Chinese firms already active in Africa's critical minerals sector.
Looking ahead, Gabon’s clarity of purpose could mark a turning point in its economic development. If Nguema's message leads to serious U.S. and international investment in energy and processing plants, Gabon could elevate itself from a raw-exporting nation to a regional industrial player.
However, the window of opportunity hinges on execution particularly whether global partners follow the president's invitation to build “win–win partnerships” or leave the spoils to more agile competitors.
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