Oil-Rich Gabon Picks Harvard Grad to Help Tackle Debt Woes.

Gabon's military leader, Brice Oligui Nguema, has appointed Mark Doumba, a Harvard-educated entrepreneur, as the new economy minister to address the country's debt issues. The World Bank recently suspended disbursements to Gabon due to arrears, and the country faces significant bond maturities in the coming years. Nguema, who took power in a 2023 coup, is expected to stabilize the economy before the upcoming presidential elections. Additionally, Gabon's Minister of Public Accounts now oversees debt management, while the former economy minister leads the environment ministry, known for pioneering debt-for-nature swaps in Africa. [Extracted from the article]