Gabon issues 580 million dollar bond

Gabon has issued an eight-year euro bond worth 580 million dollars, with a coupon rate of 9.375 percent, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance. The bond, which matures in 2034, was led by Minister Thierry Minko and attracted significant investor interest, with an order book reaching approximately 1.7 times the amount issued.

Previous bond issuance and total funding

This follows a previous issuance of 920 million dollars on July 30, also at a 9.375 percent coupon but with a seven-year maturity. Together, the two operations have raised 1.5 billion dollars, meeting the international loan envelope authorized in Gabon's supplementary budget for 2026.

Improved financing conditions

The government reported an improvement in financing conditions, noting a decrease in the risk premium required by investors by about 50 basis points compared to July, despite the extension of the bond's maturity and the rise in US interest rates. The coupon rate remained unchanged at 9.375 percent, resulting in an annual interest charge of 54.4 million dollars on the initial principal.

Debt levels and international assessments

The operation marks Gabon's first international issuance in the form of a public offering since 2021 and is expected to help the government expand its investor base and better distribute repayment deadlines. However, the country's debt situation remains under scrutiny. According to an audit published in September, the consolidated amount of the state's debt and other payable obligations reached 9524.6 billion CFA francs at the end of 2025, or 68.91 percent of GDP, based on a reclassification of obligations and a rebasing of GDP on the year 2022 without corresponding repayment.

Sovereign rating and IMF discussions

In June, Moody's confirmed Gabon's sovereign rating at Caa2 while lowering its outlook to negative due to financing risks and the deterioration of public finances. The government is continuing discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), following a mission completed on September 25, which indicated that technical discussions would continue before possible negotiations on an assistance program.

Cyberattacks and financial developments across Africa

Separately, reports indicate that observed cyberattacks in Africa have increased by 421.4 percent between 2016 and 2025, according to Mastercard. In Ghana, the government plans to allocate 43 million dollars in the 2027 budget for police health and housing. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe has allocated 500 million dollars to anticipate the impact of the El Niño phenomenon on East and Southern Africa.

African financial markets and art projects

Absa Group identified the most attractive African financial markets in 2026, noting progress in most African financial markets over the past twelve months. Additionally, Ellipse Art Projects 2026 will showcase the work of a new generation of West African artists.