Can the death of Omar Bongo, after 41 years in power, calling into question the important and old French interests in Gabon If companies with offices on-site in general prefer not to publicly address, the concern about a possible period of instability in the country does not appear in the order of the day. Firstly because, unlike several of its neighbours, Gabon has only rarely known violent disorders. On the other hand, the Gabonese market is very limited 1.5 million population and the French presence, certainly (yet) dominant, is focused on raw materials, they, very attractive. Essence oil (53 of GDP, 79 of export earnings), where Total control nearly a third of the production; mineral, manganese in head, operated by the Comilog, owned 66 by the French Eramet to the sides of the State; and the exploitation of tropical timber, dominated by the French group Rougier.
Total should prove to be particularly serene. The French company can boast a presence in the old country of 80 years. The Elf Gabon in the 1990 case is one of the symbols of the excesses of the Françafrique. Today, Total is produced, along with Shell and Chevron, 69,000 barrels per day, or 3 only of his world. In addition, Gabon has unfortunately its oil future behind him. The production is in decline, the prospects for new discoveries limited and the covetous are now turning to Angola and Nigeria.
For Eramet, however, comes to renegotiate its leases, Gabon remains strategic. An approach of sustainable development of the forest.
The French army will remain
Bolloré, via the port of Libreville, and many other French firms of services are also long and for a long time. Nevertheless, the death of Omar Bongo may coincide with a loosening of ties with the France. A first symbol could be the start of the French army. Nothing is decided, but Paris must renegotiate all of its military agreements in Africa and hopes to develop by the end of the year a new international framework to its presence on the black continent. Or, if the Senegalese base appears to be protected, that of Gabon, occupied by the 6 e BIMa, North of the capital, could be questioned. With an inevitable economic impact for the country.
In addition, an expert pointed out, "the country is a victim of the perverse effects of the oil rent, captured by a small number." He did not use it to develop the country, improve education, health, creating a fabric of SMEs. "The power, in addition, took conscience that very recently, there are 4 or 5 years, the need to negotiate the prospects". Result, Gabon lack tragically skilled and fails to keep its elites, trained abroad.
A handicap of size. Of course, the mineral wealth of Gabon, including iron, continue to attract investors, including Chinese and Indian.
But the estate promises to be delicate, with a divided opposition, a competition in the family of Omar Bongo and the risk of social unrest. In addition, the new generation of French business leaders interested in Africa, but get rid of occult methods of the past, looks today more to Cameroon, Ghana, Congo Brazzaville, Benin and Togo to Gabon.
Also the Euribor 3 months EUR rate fell 0In most cases the link is not incoherentWe are moving towards an area of deep deflationAnd it is paid by the signing of the bookThe company has even struck off the register of commerce in 1948The pattern of Texaco is one of his first contactsThis is now the new reality of higher educationThe total reached 50 million of which 28 million abroad Nothing escapes to hisfever spéculatriceSome researchers are dismayed by these delays
