Gabon's Manganese Deal: "Paris Chose Humiliation," Says Ruling Party Official
Ali Akbar Onanga Y’Obégué, Secretary General of the Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG) and former minister, has criticized a recently signed protocol agreement concerning manganese processing. The agreement, finalized at the Élysée Palace, postpones the local transformation of manganese until 2031. Y’Obégué, who also holds a doctorate in law, expressed his strong disapproval of this decision. He views the protocol as a choice made by Paris that leads to humiliation for Gabon. The article suggests that this agreement represents a setback for Gabon's ambitions regarding the value chain of its natural resources. Y’Obégué's commentary highlights a significant point of contention in the economic relationship between Gabon and France.
The agreement to delay local manganese processing until 2031, as negotiated with France, raises questions about the equitable distribution of economic benefits from resource extraction. While such protocols may offer short-term stability, they could perpetuate a model where raw materials are exported rather than refined domestically, limiting Gabon's long-term industrial development and value creation. Future agreements should prioritize mechanisms that foster immediate local industrial capacity and ensure that resource-rich nations capture a greater share of the value chain, aligning with global trends toward economic sovereignty and sustainable development in the post-commodity era.
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