F aced with social unrest in the strategic hydrocarbon sector, the President listened to unions and demanded concrete responses, particularly regarding job insecurity and subcontracting.

Direct Engagement to Prevent Paralysis : Social tension within the Ministry of Petroleum and Gas led union representatives directly to the office of the Head of State. On January 28, President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema received a union delegation determined to present their grievances. In the face of an urgent strike notice, this audience served as an immediate outlet. The President chose a policy of direct listening, making his personal involvement the primary lever to avoid a sector-wide paralysis and to seek lasting solutions.

Tackling Precarious Employment and Subcontracting : At the heart of the discussions was the strict application of Law No. 20, which targets job insecurity and abuses within subcontracting. The unions detailed their complaints, pointing out persistent failures in the system. In response, the Head of State issued firm instructions. He ordered an imminent roundtable meeting bringing together all oil and gas operators. The objective is unambiguous: to translate legal requirements into concrete, applicable measures on the ground.

A Strong Political Signal : High-Stakes Governance By directly summoning the stakeholders, President Oligui Nguema is taking a calculated risk. His personal commitment aims to resolve an immediate crisis while sending a broader message about his style of governance. Success will now be measured by the operators' ability to produce tangible progress under the increasingly vigilant eye of the Presidency. This intervention by the highest authority was perceived as a powerful political signal. The unions welcomed a move that validates their struggle and places social issues at the top of the priority list. By forcing a meeting between employers and staff representatives, the President is attempting to establish a framework of trust. He has positioned himself as the supreme arbiter, capable of imposing social dialogue as the only path toward de-escalation.

High-Stakes Governance : By directly summoning the stakeholders, President Oligui Nguema is taking a calculated risk. His personal commitment aims to resolve an immediate crisis while sending a broader message about his style of governance. Success will now be measured by the operators' ability to produce tangible progress under the increasingly vigilant eye of the Presidency.