AI Strategy Push: Libreville has started three days of consultations (Sept 28-30) to draft Gabon’s first national artificial intelligence strategy, covering skills, data, infrastructure, governance, security and rights, with UNDP support and a follow-up with startups on Oct 1. Public Finance Cleanup: Gabon moved from warnings to action by removing 1,473 “ghost” payroll workers after an accounting and biometric audit, targeting annual savings of over 11 billion FCFA and redirecting funds toward hospitals, schools and real health/teaching staffing. Debt & Oil Transparency: President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema met the IMF in Port-Gentil to reconcile assessments of Gabon’s debt and improve public finance data, while also urging new leadership at VAALCO Gabon to apply the same transparency standards in the oil sector. IMF Technical Talks: The IMF said it will continue technical discussions with Gabon on fiscal and public debt developments to pave the way for possible programme talks in coming weeks. Housing in Port-Gentil: Oligui Nguema launched construction of 848 housing units in Lip Matanda, Port-Gentil, with expected jobs and support for urban expansion. CEMAC Liquidity: BEAC raised weekly liquidity to a record CFA850 billion after strong bank demand across CEMAC, with CFA748.2 billion taken by commercial banks. Business & Markets: Africa Bright Securities approved plans to open a permanent Gabon branch and seek a capital increase, pending regulator authorization.