Gabon: Brice Oligui Nguema justifies the end of certain scholarships in Europe.

In a message to the nation delivered on Sunday, August 16, Brice Oligui Nguema explained that new Gabonese high school graduates will no longer receive scholarships for studies in certain European countries. The countries involved were not specifically named.

This measure comes in a context of rising training costs and decreasing public assistance to students in several host countries. France, which traditionally hosts a significant number of Gabonese scholarship students in Europe, is mentioned as one of the potentially affected destinations, according to reports from Libreville.

“We should not be passive in the face of this evolution. We must respond with a strategy that involves strengthening our institutions, seeking the best training, and confidently looking towards the centers of excellence in our continent,” stated the Gabonese president.

The government wants to strengthen training offers in Africa

Brice Oligui Nguema defended a gradual reorientation of training policy. He believes that Africa should not be seen as a default solution, but as a space capable of offering quality training in fields useful for the development of Gabon.

“The future of our children is not only written beyond the oceans. It is also written here, at home, and on our continent, through training more suited to our realities,” he added.

This announcement extends a policy of reducing scholarships aimed at certain foreign destinations. Gabon had already announced the cessation, starting in 2026, of scholarships for students wishing to continue their studies in the United States. The specific terms of the new restrictions affecting certain European countries have not been detailed.

The presidential speech comes as Gabon prepares to celebrate its independence on August 17, with a military parade organized along the seaside boulevard. The ceremony is set to take place in the presence of the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Félix Tshisekedi, and General Horta Ntam, described as a leader from Guinea-Bissau.