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Can Gabon’s digital push break the oil curse at last?

Aerial shot of multiple offshore oil platforms. Photo by Aron Razif @ Pexels
Aerial shot of multiple offshore oil platforms. Photo by Aron Razif @ Pexels
  • Digital sector surges, but poverty remains entrenched
  • Tech-led diversification faces governance and skills hurdles

 

LIBREVILLE, GABON — Oil-rich Gabon is racing to reinvent its economy through digital transformation, but deep structural challenges raise doubts about whether growth will translate into widespread prosperity.

Gabon ought to be one of Africa’s wealthiest nations. With a population of just 2.6 million, oil production exceeding 200,000 barrels per day, and exports spanning manganese and timber, the country’s resource base is formidable. Yet the lived reality tells a different story. Around 35% of the population lives below the poverty line, while unemployment hovers near 20%, reflecting a disconnect between national wealth and household welfare.

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