During a recent working visit to Dakar, a significant step forward in bilateral cooperation was established. Ulrich Manfoumbi Manfoumbi, Gabon’s Minister of State for Transport, Merchant Marine, and Logistics, held strategic discussions with his Senegalese counterpart, Abdoul Ahad Ndiaye. Their meeting focused on the critical challenges of modernizing public infrastructure and strengthening bilateral partnerships, aiming to facilitate a robust exchange of expertise between Libreville and Dakar.

Learning from the Senegalese transport model

Gabon intends to restructure its own domestic transit networks by studying the successful systems implemented in Senegal. Minister Ulrich Manfoumbi Manfoumbi noted: “We had the opportunity to exchange ideas with their teams on various issues related to both land and air transport.” Senegal’s achievements, particularly its management of the Blaise Diagne International Airport and its expanding road and railway networks, serve as an ideal benchmark for Gabonese authorities looking to upgrade their infrastructure.

Aligning regulations and safety standards

The two ministers also focused on harmonizing regulatory frameworks and safety protocols to meet international benchmarks while ensuring seamless transit operations. Additionally, the partnership will facilitate joint training programs for sector professionals and the sharing of technical expertise in airport security and operational management.

By adopting proven strategies from Senegal, Gabon intends to accelerate the modernization of its transit hubs, optimize national traffic flow, and reform public transport services. This initiative is designed to revitalize a sector in urgent need of structural upgrades. Furthermore, the Gabonese government is focusing on developing multimodal logistics to establish better synergy between road networks and air routes, ultimately unlocking isolated regions and accelerating the movement of passengers and freight.

Strengthening South-South cooperation

Beyond the technical logistics, this collaboration underscores a mutual commitment to fostering South-South cooperation. By pooling resources and sharing operational best practices, Gabon and Senegal are positioning the transport sector as a primary driver for economic growth, regional trade, and continental integration.