On May 20, 2026, a pivotal investment agreement was formally established at the Palais Rénovation in Libreville. Anas Sefrioui, the chairman and CEO of Ciments de l’Afrique (CIMAF), and Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, Gabon’s Transitional President, sealed a €40 million commitment. This substantial financial injection is earmarked for a comprehensive upgrade of the existing Owendo plant, which includes integrating a third production line. This expansion is crucial for meeting the rapidly escalating local demand for construction materials, a need driven by the nation’s ambitious infrastructure projects.

Beyond its industrial implications, this strategic move signifies a notable shift in the company’s governance structure. The Gabonese government has expressed its intent to elevate its ownership stake in the local subsidiary to 20%. This follows an initial acquisition of a 10% shareholding in December 2025. For Libreville, this increased equity participation aims to secure direct oversight and align with the broader economic doctrine implemented since August 2023, which advocates for transforming significant foreign investments into national co-ownerships.

From CIMAF’s perspective, this strengthened partnership aligns perfectly with the culmination of its global strategic reorientation. The group led by Anas Sefrioui is progressively withdrawing from the European market, a trend underscored by the simultaneous announcement of the sale of its final cement plant in France. Facing a European market characterized as mature and subject to intense competitive pressures, the Moroccan cement giant is strategically redirecting its capital towards the African continent, where the need for urbanization and fundamental infrastructure—such as roads, bridges, and housing—remains immense.

This transaction also highlights an evolution in Morocco’s economic influence. While historically more concentrated in West Africa, major Moroccan private sector players are now systematically expanding their footprint into Central Africa, targeting key industrial sectors. For Gabon, whose economy has traditionally relied on oil revenues, this public-private alliance offers a vital testing ground for an industrial diversification model, effectively combining Moroccan private capital, Gabonese public governance, and regional economic integration.