In a decisive display of continued cooperation, French President Emmanuel Macron and Gabonese President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema inaugurated the fully renovated French Institute of Gabon (IFG) in Libreville on Monday. The ceremony underscored sustained cultural, educational, and creative ties between France and Gabon, even as anti-French rhetoric circulates in parts of the region.The IFG’s modernization elevates it into a leading hub for culture and learning. The revamped facility features upgraded multimedia rooms, a redesigned media library, and a state-of-the-art auditorium, all designed to foster creation, innovation, and training for artists, students, and researchers.
The presidential visit included a tour of the institute’s spaces, beginning with the fashion and raffia workshop where designer Chouchou Lazare showcased his work. Anthropologist Hermann Moussoudou delivered a talk on raffia symbolism, illustrating the institute’s fusion of culture with academic inquiry.
At the Campus France area, researchers such as Marie-Josée Angue Zogho and Dr. Geoffroy de Saulieu (IRD) discussed the latest Gabonese archaeology developments. The leaders also met individuals involved in sports and gender equality, including Princess Apinda and former international basketball player Géraldine Robert.The visit concluded at Galerie M with the “Disfigured” exhibition, followed by an auditorium performance featuring four Gabonese B-boys, who demonstrated breakdancing and N’Tcham under the coordination of Ekomo Bikoro Jean Hussein.
The renovation marks the first major upgrade to the IFG in several years, symbolizing renewed cultural and educational cooperation between France and Gabon.In related regional diplomacy, Gabon and France, represented by the CBFP (Co-Facilitators of the Congo Basin Forest Partnership), celebrated the Belém Call to Action for the Congo Basin Forests. President Oligui thanked President Macron for his “personal and decisive” involvement in adopting the Belém Call, which he welcomed as a “fundamental step forward.”
Macron hailed the Belém Call as a “historic commitment that demonstrates the joint mobilization of international partners and Central African countries in favor of forest protection and sustainable management.”
Despite a surge in anti-French propaganda in certain circles, the events in Libreville highlighted a durable and evolving partnership that embraces cultural exchange, education, and joint environmental stewardship.
The IFG renovation and high-level talks affirm that France-Gabon relations remain robust and forward-looking, with both nations pursuing shared goals in culture, science, and sustainable development.
