Gabon: a French strike against palm oil

French strikers blocking the import of palm oil and the French government taking steps to limit and reduce palm oil imports are crucial developments that will place renewed pressure on the Gabonese government of President Ali Bongo Ondimba to diversify his country’s economy. Redirecting Gabonese palm oil exports will face headwinds coming from major palm oil exporters including Indonesia and Malaysia looking for new markets of their own. The adverse actions in France will further strain Gabon’s fiscal deficit, compound difficulties the government has faced in developing non-hydrocarbons sectors of the economy, and add to pressure Ondimba’s new cabinet faces …

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