Central Africa: Gabon's public debt rises 23% as government turns to regional markets
Gabon's outstanding public debt rose 23% year-on-year to 8,780.3 billion FCFA by the end of December 2025. The increase was driven by a sharp rise in domestic borrowing as the government shifted away from traditional external financing.
Gabon's public debt registered a striking increase by the end of 2025, reaching 8,780.3 billion FCFA. That figure marks a 23% rise compared with the previous year.
The main driver behind the increase was the government's shift away from traditional external financing sources toward greater reliance on domestic borrowing. Regional market borrowing has come to account for an increasingly large share of the country's financing strategy.
Economists say the shift could reduce currency risk in the short term but may put pressure on domestic market liquidity. Gabon's debt management strategy is also being closely watched by other economies across Central Africa.
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