By Rodrigue Fenelon Massala
On the sidelines of the United States-Africa summit convened by President Donald Trump and focused on critical minerals, Gabonese President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema marked a major diplomatic milestone. On July 8, 2025 in Washington, he oversaw the signing of a strategic agreement between the Gabonese government and the American company Millenial Potash. This partnership is for the development of the Mayumba potash deposit, located in the southern province of Nyanga, for a total amount of 500 million dollars.
The first tranche of financing, estimated at 5 million dollars, will be dedicated to feasibility studies, before a gradual deployment of funds for industrial development and related infrastructure. This project is part of a dynamic of mining sovereignty and economic diversification, a pillar of President Oligui’s program.
A strategic deposit at the heart of fertilizer geopolitics
Potash, an essential component in fertilizer production, is now classified among critical resources, at the crossroads of agricultural and geopolitical issues. Faced with growing global demand, especially in Asia and Africa, control of this resource becomes a lever of power. The Mayumba deposit, identified as one of the largest in Central Africa, could enable Gabon to establish itself among the few African potash producers, reducing its dependence on imports and strengthening its regional influence.
This resource also offers a diplomatic tool. By developing export capacity to neighboring countries such as Congo, Cameroon, or the DRC, Gabon could become a strategic supplier in Central Africa. In the longer term, potash could serve as a lever in its relations with powers like China, Russia, or Brazil, who also have their eyes on critical minerals.
A driver of local economic transformation
Beyond geopolitical considerations, the Mayumba project is an opportunity for diversification for the Gabonese economy, still dominated by oil and manganese. It aligns with the presidential vision of development focused on local transformation of natural resources and upgrading the productive apparatus.
Exploiting the deposit will require significant investments in roads, energy, port and railway logistics. These projects could revitalize the Nyanga province, often marginalized, through the creation of skilled jobs, technician training, and the development of related industrial fabric.
Sovereignty and legal framework in sight
However, to maximize the benefits of this project, Gabon will need to strengthen its mining legal framework to ensure balanced, sustainable, and sovereign exploitation. Opening up to foreign investors should not result in a loss of strategic control. Contractual transparency and equitable profit sharing will be decisive.
In summary, the Mayumba potash deposit is more than just a mining project: it is a instrument of power for a Gabon that intends to have a greater impact in African and global affairs. As long as it masters the stakes.
