Gabon: guinean group sonoço launches ambitious agrofood project in Libreville

Libreville, Wednesday 10 June 2026 – Gabon may have just opened one of the most decisive chapters in its economic transformation. By receiving a delegation from the Guinean group SONOCO led by its Managing Director Abdoul Karim Diallo, President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema gave substance to an ambition voiced a few weeks earlier at the Kigali Forum.

That ambition is to build a new development model based on productive sovereignty, cooperation between African economies, and wealth creation on the continent.

Beyond a simple diplomatic audience, this meeting marks the concretisation of a call to African investors to support Gabon’s economic repositioning. The response from SONOCO, one of West Africa’s largest private conglomerates, sends a strong signal. It reflects the growing confidence Gabon inspires among African economic actors as the country accelerates its diversification strategy.

Food sovereignty offensive

The choice of the agri-food sector is no coincidence. For several years, food security has emerged as one of the major challenges for African economies. Despite considerable agricultural potential, many countries still rely heavily on imports to feed their populations. Gabon is no exception. A significant share of its poultry consumption remains imported, weighing heavily on the national trade balance.

This is precisely where the SONOCO project intends to act. The stated ambition goes far beyond simply installing production units. The Guinean group plans to replicate in Gabon an integrated model already proven in several African countries. A strategy based on full control of the value chain.

The project includes local production of plant raw materials for animal feed, construction of a modern feed mill, establishment of hatcheries, brooding facilities, laying farms, broiler chicken farms, and an industrial slaughterhouse meeting international standards.

Large-scale industrial value chain

This integrated approach is one of the most strategic elements of the programme. In many African countries, agricultural sectors suffer from fragmentation that limits their competitiveness. By controlling every stage of production, SONOCO aims to guarantee better economic efficiency while strengthening the resilience of the entire sector.

The announced targets reflect the scale of ambition. With annual production set to exceed fifteen million broiler chickens, Gabon could achieve self-sufficiency in this segment and drastically reduce its dependence on imports. For a country that still imports a large share of its food needs, the stakes are enormous.

However, the expected impact goes beyond food alone. As in Guinea, where SONOCO’s poultry sector already generates nearly four thousand jobs, the Gabon project should create several thousand direct and indirect jobs in agriculture, livestock, industrial processing, transport, logistics, and services.

This dynamic fits perfectly with the economic vision promoted by Gabonese authorities. The goal is no longer just to exploit national resources but to process locally, create more added value, and build an industrial fabric capable of sustaining growth over the long term.

A symbol of Africa investing in Africa

The other major dimension of this partnership lies in its geopolitical significance. At a time when African states are seeking to strengthen intra-African trade, the cooperation between Libreville and Conakry illustrates the emergence of a new economic paradigm. One where Africa invests in Africa, shares know-how, and builds its own value chains.

Administrative and land procedures have now been initiated with the relevant ministries, and the first facilities should become operational in the coming months. If the schedule is maintained, the SONOCO project could quickly become one of the most visible symbols of Gabon’s new economic policy.

In a global context marked by food uncertainties, supply chain tensions, and the need to bolster local production, this initiative takes on a dimension that transcends Gabon’s borders. It reflects a conviction increasingly shared across the continent: Africa’s economic sovereignty will depend as much on its mines and infrastructure as on its ability to sustainably feed its people. The partnership between Gabon and SONOCO fits precisely into this trajectory and could become one of the most accomplished examples of South-South cooperation serving Africa’s economic transformation.