Modernisation of the Trans-Gabon Railway: The Head of State Receives the Ambassador of the European Union to Gabon

The President of the Republic, Head of State and Head of Government, His Excellency Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, granted an audience today to Her Excellency Ms Cécile Abadie, Ambassador of the European Union to Gabon.

The discussion focused primarily on the modernisation of the Trans-Gabon Railway, following the signing, on November 24, 2025, of the agreement relating to the Trans-Gabon Railway Modernisation and Security Program (PMS). This tripartite agreement between Gabon, France, and the European Union was signed on the sidelines of the state visit of the French President, His Excellency Emmanuel Macron.

This program aims to strengthen the reliability and safety of the 648-kilometre railway line linking Libreville to Franceville. The announced investments will notably allow for the treatment of unstable areas, the rehabilitation of critical infrastructure, and an increase in network capacity to 16 train paths per day. The plan also includes the modernisation of passenger stations and the strengthening of the institutional capacities of the State and SETRAG, the operator of the national railway network.

The Head of State emphasised that the modernisation of the Trans-Gabon Railway is a key driver of competitiveness for the national economy, which is based primarily on mining, timber, and agribusiness. The anticipated improvements will contribute to job creation, the development of new professions, improved flow of essential goods to the port of Owendo, and the growth of key sectors. They will also help open up isolated areas and improve living conditions for the population.

Furthermore, the President of the Republic received in audience Her Excellency Ms Riham Hussein Amnar, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the Gabonese Republic.

Two priority sectors were discussed: health and infrastructure, areas central to the President’s vision for accelerating the country’s transformation.

Regarding the health sector, the Ambassador informed the President of the Republic of the arrival of three specialists at the Egyptian-Gabonese hospital, intended to strengthen the medical teams. Keen to improve the provision of care and the quality of treatment, the President expressed his desire to intensify health cooperation. He requested an increase in the number of Egyptian doctors to ten specialists in order to broaden the range of services and consolidate local expertise.

Regarding infrastructure, the President of the Republic reaffirmed his ambition to see Egyptian investors become more involved in the implementation of major projects, particularly the Mayumba bridge, a strategic infrastructure for opening up and developing the region economically. He invited the Egyptian side to contribute its expertise to this large-scale project.

On the diplomatic front, the Ambassador presented the Head of State with a gift from the Egyptian President, commemorating the invitation extended to him to attend the inauguration of the world’s largest museum on November 1st. The President of the Republic expressed his warmest thanks to his counterpart, praising the strength of the fraternal relations and the exemplary cooperation between the two countries.

This meeting confirms the strength of a strategic partnership based on vision, cooperation and the achievement of concrete results, serving the development of Gabon and the strengthening of ties between Libreville and Cairo.