Public Finance & Oil Governance: President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema met the IMF in Port-Gentil to reconcile estimates of Gabon’s public debt and push for stricter, more transparent management of accounts. A second meeting with VAALCO Gabon’s new leadership urged the same rigor and transparency for the oil sector. Food Sovereignty at the WTO: Libreville is preparing its response after the U.S. challenged Gabon’s planned ban on frozen chicken imports from 1 January 2027, framing it as a test of economic sovereignty and support for local producers. UN Climate & Conservation Agenda: Gabon’s foreign minister, Marie-Édith Tassyla-Ye-Doumbeny, leads the country as vice-president of the UN General Assembly’s 81st session, with priorities including climate action and forest and ocean conservation. Fisheries Renegotiation with the EU: Gabon has launched talks for a new Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement after the previous EU protocol expired, aiming to rebalance benefits and tighten terms for access to marine resources. Anti-Corruption & Fiscal Relief: Gabon removed 1,473 ghost workers from the state payroll after audits, projecting savings of over 11 billion FCFA a year to fund schools and healthcare. Wildlife & Biodiversity Spotlight: A new study highlights how elephants around Mount Elgon in Kenya prepare medicinal plant mixtures for their calves, adding fresh detail to conservation and biodiversity value. Illegal Timber Crackdown: Dutch authorities seized 375 tons of illegally sourced tropical hardwood linked to Gabon’s azobé, with investigations targeting missing legal documentation.