Gabon’s military-led government has assumed full control of the country’s timber industry, seizing the Société Nationale des Bois du Gabon from the Gabon Special Economic Zone (GSEZ). This move grants the government direct access to a $620 million sector, further consolidating its authority over one of the nation’s key economic assets.
The timber industry is a significant contributor to Gabon’s economy, accounting for 3.2% of its $19.4 billion GDP, according to the World Bank. In a bid to strengthen its grip on the sector, the government has brought 600,000 hectares (1.5 million acres) of Gabonese forest under its management. This action follows the government’s longstanding policy of regulating logging, which included a ban on timber exports in 2010.
Military leader Brice Oligui Nguema expressed the government’s determination to ensure responsible resource management. “This move reflects our commitment to safeguard Gabon’s resources, manage them efficiently, and use them as a catalyst for the nation’s development,” Nguema said in a statement on X.
The military government’s takeover of the timber sector follows similar actions earlier this year, when it used its preemptive rights to block the Carlyle Group’s sale of shares in Assala Energy to Etablissements Maurel & Prom SA, further signaling its increasing influence over key industries.
Marc Ona Essangui, head of the environmental organization Brainforest and a senior political figure, stressed the importance of a sustainable framework for the timber industry. “The challenge now is to implement effective systems for monitoring logging activities, ensuring traceability of wood, and creating a forest code that aligns with international standards for sustainability,” Essangui said.
On Monday, the government signed a memorandum of understanding with Dubai-based Arise IIP, although the details of any compensation were not immediately disclosed. The move comes amid rising concerns about the environmental impact of unsustainable logging and a growing push for more transparent, responsible management of Gabon’s forest resources.