Gabon’s Manganese Export Ban Signals Shift in Africa’s Resource Strategy

Gabon’s government, under President Brice Oligui Nguema, announced on June 1, 2025, that it will ban the export of raw manganese starting January 1, 2029.

This decision marks a major change in Gabon’s approach to its mineral wealth and reflects a broader movement among African nations.

The government aims to force mining companies to process manganese locally, create skilled jobs, and capture more value from the country’s resources.

Gabon is the world’s second-largest producer of manganese, a mineral vital for steelmaking and increasingly important for electric vehicle batteries.

Eramet, the French mining group and main shareholder in Gabon’s leading manganese producer Comilog, acknowledged the government’s plan and committed to protecting the 10,460 local jobs tied to its mining and rail operations.

Eramet has operated in Gabon for over 30 years and processes some manganese ore locally, but most of its output still leaves the country as raw material.

The company paused operations briefly after the 2023 coup that ended Ali Bongo’s 56-year rule, and it cut production forecasts in 2024 due to weak global demand.

President Nguema, who took power after the 2023 coup and won the April 2025 election with nearly 95 percent of the vote, wants to reshape Gabon’s economy.

Gabon’s Resource Strategy

Despite its natural wealth, about a third of Gabon’s 2.3 million people live in poverty. The government hopes that building up local processing will create jobs, increase tax revenues, and reduce the country’s reliance on exporting raw materials.

Gabon’s move is not isolated. Nearly half of Africa’s 54 countries now restrict or ban raw material exports. Countries like Guinea, Zimbabwe, and Tanzania have introduced similar rules, aiming to keep more of the value chain at home.

This trend reflects a pushback against the old model where African countries exported raw resources and imported finished goods at higher prices. The government has given mining firms three years to build processing plants and train workers.

A public-private investment fund will support the transition. Analysts say the impact of Gabon’s ban will depend on how fast the country can build up its processing capacity.

Eramet’s shares fell more than five percent after the announcement, showing the policy’s immediate effect on foreign investors. However, both the government and Eramet stress ongoing cooperation.

Gabon’s policy signals a clear shift in how African nations manage their mineral wealth. By keeping more of the value chain at home, Gabon and its peers aim to create jobs, grow their economies, and reduce poverty.

The world’s hunger for minerals like manganese makes these changes important for global supply chains and business.

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