The World Bank has suspended its disbursements to Gabon for the second time in less than a year.
This decision was prompted by the arrears accumulated by Gabon, leading the institution to halt its financial support once more within a short period.
In June 2024, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the non-concessional arm of the World Bank Group, had already removed Gabon from its list of eligible countries for financing. The reason cited was unpaid debts amounting to approximately 10.4 billion CFA francs.
Libreville authorities attributed these delays to technical issues at the time. Shortly after that suspension, the government announced it had settled its debt with the institution.
This latest default risks tarnishing Gabon's international reputation and raises concerns about its ability to honor its global commitments. Until now, the country's solvency and credibility had not been questioned, despite its politically fragile situation, according to local media reports.
The Gabonese government, reportedly notified of this decision during the extraordinary summit of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) held on December 16 in Yaoundé, Cameroon, has yet to respond.
