Gabon’s President, Brice Oligui Nguema, has replaced Finance Minister Henri-Claude Oyima in a significant government shake-up as the nation grapples with a severe liquidity crisis and mounting debt.
Technical adviser Thierry Minko has been appointed as the new “minister of economy, finance, debt and shareholdings, responsible for combating the high cost of living,” according to a presidential decree issued on Thursday.
Marc Abeghe was also named to oversee the budget at the ministry.
The change comes as Gabon faces intense financial pressure, highlighted by a recent credit rating downgrade from Fitch, which cited a widening fiscal deficit and weakened appetite for the country’s debt in regional markets.
Government debt is projected to soar from 72.9% of GDP in 2024 to over 85% by 2026, forcing the country to rely on the shared currency reserves of its Central African peers to finance essential imports.
Oyima, a prominent banker who also heads the BGFIBank group, was appointed in May 2025 following the country’s first post-coup election, but his dual roles had raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
His replacement, Minko, now faces the immense task of stabilizing public finances, renegotiating with creditors, and restoring confidence in Gabon’s economy.
