Gabon is stepping up cooperation with Senegal as it prepares to overhaul its poultry industry and reduce reliance on imported chicken, ahead of a planned import ban in 2027.
- Gabon is turning to Senegal for technical support as it prepares to ban chicken imports by 2027 and build its domestic poultry industry.
- Senegal’s two-decade import ban and integrated value chain have made it one of West Africa’s most successful poultry producers.
- Gabon, by contrast, still depends heavily on imports, with local output covering only a fraction of demand.
- Officials say cooperation and training programmes are key to closing that gap and achieving food self-sufficiency.
The push follows a working visit to Dakar by Gabon’s agriculture minister, Pacôme Kossy, where officials from both countries discussed technical assistance, training and industry structuring.
Senegalese authorities said they were ready to help Gabon “co-build a high-performing sector” by sharing lessons from their own experience in developing a competitive domestic poultry market.
Libreville’s outreach to Dakar comes as Gabon accelerates a broader food-sovereignty strategy. The government has announced plans to end broiler chicken imports from January 2027, a move aimed at boosting local production, creating jobs and reducing a heavy import bill.
Senegal’s poultry model
Senegal is widely regarded as one of West Africa’s most successful poultry producers after maintaining a ban on imported frozen chicken since 2005, initially introduced during an avian influenza outbreak.
The restriction, which still covers poultry meat, eggs and most live birds, allowed local producers to expand while shielding them from cheaper imports.
Over the past two decades, Senegal has built an integrated value chain covering hatcheries, feed production, farming, processing and distribution.
The country also set up an inter-professional body to coordinate producers, processors and traders, helping to standardise practices and improve productivity.
As a result, domestic output has risen sharply. International data show that Senegal’s chicken meat production has increased more than fivefold since the mid-2000s, while private investment has supported large-scale egg and feed operations in recent years.
Gabon faces a steep starting point
Gabon’s poultry sector remains far less developed. The country still relies heavily on imports to meet domestic demand, with local production covering only a small share of consumption.
To close the gap, the government has launched a programme to train around 40,000 workers across the poultry value chain, from feed manufacturing to processing and cold-chain logistics.
Officials say the partnership with Senegal will help accelerate that transition by giving Gabonese farmers, veterinarians and agribusiness operators direct exposure to a working model in the region.
During the Dakar visit, the delegation toured farms, training centres and feed mills to better understand how the industry is organised and regulated.
Replicating the model will not be straightforward
Despite Senegal’s success, analysts say replicating its model will require major investments in feed production, veterinary services, financing and infrastructure in Gabon, where production costs are typically higher and domestic markets smaller.
Still, Libreville views the partnership as a key step toward reducing food imports and strengthening local agriculture.
If implemented successfully, the planned import ban could reshape poultry trade flows in Central Africa and create new opportunities for regional suppliers of feed, breeding stock and processing equipment.
