Seminary on institutional reform: Gabon shapes its 5th Republic
From 5 to 6 August 2025, the Ministry of Reform and Institutional Relations, with the support of the International IDEA and the European Union, hosted a ‘Seminar on Structural Reform and Institutional Renewal,’ a decisive meeting for Gabon's institutional future.
The opening ceremony was attended by the President of the Senate and several members of the government. In his opening remarks, the Minister of Reforms and Relations with Institutions, Mr François Ndong Obiang, expressed the ambition to
‘build stronger, fairer institutions that respect democratic principles.’
Mr Nicolas Kasprzyk, Chargé d'affaires a.i. of the European Union Delegation to Gabon, reiterated the European Union's commitment to
‘stand alongside Gabon in its efforts to strengthen its democratic institutions and promote human rights.’
Finally, Vice-President of the Government Mr Alexandre Barro-Chambrier, recalled that this workshop was intended to be ‘a space for republican pedagogy, for ownership of the changes underway, and a forum for discussion on the challenges of implementing reforms’.
The event aimed to raise awareness, inform and support stakeholders in the design of a new legal and regulatory framework, as well as the progressive adaptation of institutions to these new reforms.
Over two days, experts, institutional actors, parliamentarians, lawyers and development partners worked to:
-
Present the constitutional architecture of the Fifth Republic;
-
Reveal operational innovations in the functioning of the State to the various institutional actors;
-
Popularise the new public action process;
-
Promote partnership and complementarity between institutions.
International IDEA supported this initiative as part of the DEMGAB project, funded by the European Union. The project aims to support a sustainable return to constitutional order, prevent electoral violence and strengthen institutions and civil society organisations to promote democratic transparency and citizen engagement.
About the authors
