Gabon’s president outlines performance goals for new tax leadership

On Wednesday, June 3, 2026, the President of the Republic, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, held a significant meeting with the newly appointed Director General of Taxes, Edith Laure Mbiguidi Oyaya. She was accompanied by all recently promoted officials within her administration, alongside Thierry Minko, the Minister of Economy, Finance, Debt, and Participations, who also oversees the fight against the high cost of living.

This initial engagement provided the new Director General an opportunity to convey her profound gratitude to the Head of State for her appointment. More importantly, Edith Laure Mbiguidi Oyaya utilized this platform to delineate the primary strategic directions for her mandate.

Her comprehensive strategy is built upon a clear three-pronged approach: modernizing existing structures, broadening the tax base, and optimizing revenue collection. The tax administration further aims to bolster its mechanisms for taxpayer control and monitoring, all while upholding core values of rigor, integrity, and professionalism.

Digitalization: a potent weapon against fiscal fraud

In response to these ambitious plans, President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema underscored the pivotal role of the Direction générale des Impôts (DGI) in Gabon’s broader economic transformation. For the Head of State, the effective mobilization of domestic revenues is the essential fuel required to finance critical infrastructure projects and enhance public services across the nation.

To realize these crucial objectives, the President emphasized the urgent necessity of deploying a fully integrated digitalization system. This significant digital transformation is imperative for simplifying user procedures, strengthening the traceability of financial operations, and definitively eradicating tax fraud.

A firm call for exemplary conduct and tangible results

In his concluding remarks, Gabon’s leader urged the new officials to decisively break away from outdated practices by fostering a culture of teamwork, discipline, and transparency. Placing performance at the heart of his administration’s agenda, the government now expects the DGI to emerge as the primary catalyst for the recovery and strengthening of the country’s public finances.