Gabon will halt the export of raw manganese by 2029 as part of a broader economic reform strategy aimed at boosting local industry and reducing reliance on unprocessed resource exports, the government announced Monday.
The Central African nation, currently the world’s second-largest producer of manganese, said the move is intended to spur domestic processing, create skilled jobs, and capture greater value from its natural resources.
“Manganese is one of Gabon’s top revenue sources, alongside oil and timber. We must ensure it benefits the country more directly,” officials said in a government statement.
The industry has been given a three-year window to invest in local transformation facilities. In support of the transition, Gabon plans to establish a public-private investment fund to help finance domestic processing projects.
In a related move, the government said it will ban chicken meat imports beginning in 2027 to encourage local poultry production. The policy aims to stimulate domestic agriculture and improve food security.
Despite being one of Africa’s wealthiest countries per capita, Gabon faces persistent poverty and inequality. Officials said the new measures are part of wider reforms to build a more self-reliant economy and address social disparities.
“These decisions are essential for long-term national development,” the statement added.