The move follows a working visit to Dakar by Gabon’s Agriculture Minister, Pacôme Kossy, who held discussions with Mabouba Diagne on strengthening cooperation through training, technical assistance, and industry development.
Gabon’s planned ban on chicken imports from January 2027 forms part of a broader strategy to boost local production, reduce import dependency, and create jobs within its agricultural sector.
Currently, domestic poultry production meets only a small portion of national demand, leaving the country heavily reliant on imports.
Learning from Senegal’s success
Senegal is widely recognized for building one of West Africa’s most successful poultry industries, following a ban on imported frozen chicken introduced in 2005. Over time, it has developed a strong, integrated value chain spanning production, processing, and distribution.
This model has enabled Senegal to significantly increase domestic output while protecting local producers from external competition.
To replicate this success, Gabon has launched a programme aimed at training around 40,000 workers across the poultry value chain, including farming, feed production, and processing.
Officials say collaboration with Senegal will accelerate knowledge transfer and provide practical insights into building a competitive domestic industry.
Despite the ambitious plan, experts note that Gabon will need substantial investment in infrastructure, financing, and technical capacity to match Senegal’s achievements.
If successful, the 2027 import ban could transform Gabon’s agricultural sector and influence poultry trade dynamics across Central Africa.
