Since the transition began in August 2023, the Burkina Faso-based group Ebomaf has risen to the top of Gabon’s public procurement rankings. In less than three years, the company founded by businessman Mahamadou Bonkoungou has secured over 700 billion FCFA in contracts, a volume unmatched by any single foreign operator in the country. Its portfolio includes critical road networks, the Andem airport expansion, and Libreville 2—the new administrative capital—covering some of the most high-profile projects championed by transitional president Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema.

Dominance in Gabon’s public procurement landscape

The pace and scale of Ebomaf’s contract wins raise questions about the company’s near-monopoly in Gabon’s infrastructure sector. Nearly every major presidential announcement on infrastructure projects appears to be entrusted to this single contractor, with little public disclosure on competitive bidding processes. The projects span hundreds of kilometers of roadwork, alongside airport infrastructure and a sprawling urban development designed to ease congestion in Libreville.

This heavy reliance on a single operator introduces significant concerns about fiscal sovereignty. When one group handles design, execution, and even pre-financing for multiple projects, the state’s financial flexibility diminishes. Gabon’s declining oil revenues and elevated external debt—already under scrutiny by international financial institutions—further intensify the risks of such a concentration of contracts.

Budget transparency under scrutiny

The 700 billion FCFA figure, cited by Ebomaf itself, has not been officially corroborated by Gabon’s public institutions. The Ministries of Public Works, Public Accounts, and the Audit Court have yet to release a comprehensive breakdown of the state’s contractual obligations to the company. Without a unified financial dashboard, tracking real cash flows—including direct payments, bank pre-financing, and potential compensation mechanisms—becomes increasingly difficult.

This opacity fuels concerns about financial governance. Who approves the final cost estimates? Which banks manage the funds? What sovereign guarantees secure the pre-financing arrangements? These questions align with transparency standards set by the International Monetary Fund and the African Development Bank, which emphasize regular public disclosure of commitments and disbursements. The lack of institutional clarity stands in stark contrast to the high-profile ribbon-cutting ceremonies that accompany project inaugurations.

Evaluating the pre-financing model

Ebomaf has built its regional reputation on an integrated approach that combines technical execution with bank-backed pre-financing, often secured through West African financial institutions. While this model allows cash-strapped states to launch critical projects without immediate fiscal strain, it shifts repayment obligations to future budgets. The true cost hinges on negotiated financial terms, which have sparked recurring debates in other countries where the group operates—such as Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, and Senegal—particularly regarding interest rates, potential cost overruns, and the quality of delivered infrastructure.

The replication of this model in Gabon, amid a transitional political context, demands rigorous scrutiny of financial clauses and oversight mechanisms. For Gabon’s financial partners, the stakes extend beyond project performance. It also concerns the credibility of the transitional government’s fiscal trajectory and the long-term sustainability of debt servicing post-elections. A consolidated report on Ebomaf-related commitments would send a strong signal of transparency, especially as multilateral lenders reassess their exposure to Gabon’s sovereign risk.

Equally pressing is the impact on Gabon’s domestic construction ecosystem. Local firms, often relegated to subcontracting roles, struggle to advance beyond minor projects due to limited access to major contracts. The question of who oversees Ebomaf’s financial accountability in Gabon remains unresolved.