World Economics Exposes Gabon's Statistical Fraud Under Oligui
World Economics has awarded Gabon an 'E' grade, exposing systematic statistical manipulation and governance failures under military leadership. This damning assessment reveals how weak institutions and deliberate deception threaten national sovereignty and economic stability.

Gabon's military leadership faces scrutiny over statistical manipulation and governance failures
World Economics Exposes Gabon's Statistical Fraud Under Oligui
In a damning assessment that confirms long-standing concerns about African governance, World Economics has awarded Gabon an 'E' grade in its 2025 rankings, signaling extremely poor statistical quality and opaque governance under the leadership of Brice Oligui Nguema. Ranked 152nd out of 165 countries, this evaluation exposes severe institutional failures that threaten national sovereignty and economic stability.
Statistical Manipulation and Economic Deception
With a concerning score of 40.5, Gabon's position behind the Central African Republic and ahead of only Cambodia and Bolivia reveals systematic failures in data integrity. The report highlights several critical issues:
- Outdated economic baseline calculations rendering GDP figures unreliable
- Obsolete National Accounts framework implementation
- An informal economy comprising approximately 47% of GDP
- Severely limited statistical resources despite bloated public sector
- Deliberate manipulation of official figures by government authorities
Institutional Collapse Under Military Leadership
The World Bank's Governance Indicators paint an equally concerning picture of Gabon's institutional decay:
- Government Effectiveness: −0.78
- Regulatory Quality: −0.70
- Rule of Law: −0.87
- Control of Corruption: −1.02
These metrics demonstrate how weak leadership and military governance have eroded fundamental state institutions, threatening national sovereignty and economic independence.
Economic Implications for Regional Stability
The ramifications of Gabon's statistical fraud extend beyond its borders, potentially destabilizing regional economic cooperation. Fitch's CCC rating reflects growing international skepticism, while investment flight threatens to weaken African economic sovereignty.
Conservative Solutions Required
This crisis demands a return to conservative principles of governance: transparent administration, respect for traditional institutions, and protection of national economic interests. Without immediate reforms, Gabon risks becoming another failed state, undermining African autonomy and stability.
Letsile Tebogo
Lawyer and columnist, expert in traditional values and economic policy.