Camp de Gaulle (EFG)

The French military presence in Gabon was historically centered on Camp de Gaulle in Libreville, which for decades hosted the 6th Marine Infantry Battalion (6e BIMa) and the wider Éléments français au Gabon (EFG). The site served as a permanent French military position and an important hub for France's defense cooperation with Gabon and other Central African partners. French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs

The French presence combined operational, training and logistical functions. The 6e BIMa conducted military partnership activities and regional training, while the wider EFG structure provided support, coordination and the ability to receive and support French forces deployed to Central Africa. French personnel also provided specialized training to Gabonese forces, including instruction in parachuting and jungle warfare. French Army — 6e BIMa

Libreville's location gave the French presence a regional role beyond Gabon itself. From the country, French forces supported military cooperation with states across Central Africa and maintained a logistical and operational foothold in the region. The site therefore functioned not simply as a garrison, but as a platform for regional military partnership and potential force projection.

France began restructuring its military footprint in Gabon after the two countries renewed their defense partnership. In July 2024, Camp de Gaulle was transformed into a jointly managed Franco-Gabonese training center, marking the end of the site as a conventional French overseas base. French forces subsequently reduced their permanent footprint while retaining military personnel for liaison, training and cooperation missions. French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs — France and Gabon

Today, the French presence is centered on the Détachement de liaison interarmées au Gabon (DLIA-G), integrated into the Gabonese military facility at Libreville. Its role is to facilitate information exchange, coordinate exercises and develop operational partnerships with the Gabonese Armed Forces. The modern arrangement is therefore better described as a French military liaison and training presence within a Gabonese facility rather than an independent French overseas base. French Ministry of the Armed Forces — DLIA-G