According to Gabonreview, the Gabonese government announced on 8 September 2026 the immediate suspension of new tax and customs exemptions, along with a freeze on exemptions already granted through administrative decisions, pending their review. Exemptions explicitly provided for by law will be reassessed as part of the next finance bill before it is submitted to Parliament.
The decision follows figures presented by government departments: customs services estimate their revenue loss at 209.239 billion CFA francs and tax services at 74.038 billion, for a combined total of more than 283 billion CFA francs in tax expenditure as of the end of July 2026. The text cited by Gabonreview states that the measure was taken at the initiative of President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, with the aim of restoring budgetary balance and ensuring transparent fiscal management.
The government also announced an audit covering the 2023-2026 period, intended to check whether the exemptions granted produced the expected results in terms of investment, employment and development. Affected economic operators must continue to meet their tax and customs obligations during the suspension.
