The Democratic Republic of Congo and Gabon are moving to broaden bilateral ties, with a new set of agreements aimed at strengthening political dialogue, investment, and industrial cooperation.
Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi and Gabonese President Brice-Clotaire Oligui Nguema reached the agreements on Aug. 15 during Tshisekedi’s visit to Libreville. The package includes a memorandum of understanding on regular political and diplomatic consultations, a reciprocal visa waiver agreement, and a general cooperation agreement, privately owned Congolese news outlet Actualite.cd reported.
The two countries also agreed to encourage investment and closer cooperation between their private sectors, with the aim of creating partnerships and diversifying trade.
Natural resource processing emerged as a central element of the new economic agenda. Both governments emphasized the need to increase local processing of Africa’s natural resources and link resource development to industrialization, employment, and economic growth.
“Africa must now process its natural resources locally on its soil,” Oligui said.
For the DRC and Gabon, the approach could create opportunities for greater economic cooperation beyond traditional commodity exports, particularly in industrial processing and investment. The agreements are also expected to provide a broader framework for trade and economic ties while institutionalizing political consultations between the two governments.
The move comes as both countries seek to capture more value from their natural resources and strengthen economic links within Africa.
