Government and Private Sector: A Dialogue?

By Sophie HERVOUET | LNC

(Bangui, September 8, 2026 | LNC) Does the Central African government seem to be finally discovering the existence and importance of the private sector? This is the impression shared by many observers following the press conference held on September 4, 2026, by Evariste Ngamana, Minister of Communication and Government Spokesperson. During the briefing, the minister solemnly announced the establishment of a new forum for regular dialogue with business leaders, aimed at smoothing over and harmonizing relations that had previously been notably distant. The official line: According to the government spokesperson, the authorities are simply taking the next step in an existing—albeit hitherto embryonic—process. Speaking to journalists, Evariste Ngamana sought to put past inaction into perspective: "The government wishes to give fresh impetus to the dialogue with the private sector and, above all, make it more regular, structured, and result-oriented. It is worth noting that public-private dialogue is not a new initiative. Consultation mechanisms already exist, and sectoral work has been underway for several years. What we want today is to reach a new milestone. It is not a matter of starting from scratch or erasing what has already been done; rather, it is about building on the experience gained and strengthening the effectiveness of the system." However, the reality on the ground reveals a very different dynamic. It was not the Bangui authorities who initiated this rapprochement out of strategic foresight, but the private sector players themselves. Having run out of patience with the accumulation of top-down government directives imposed without prior consultation, entrepreneurs ultimately forced this roundtable discussion to demand that they finally be heard. An "institutional chain." Faced with growing discontent among business leaders, the minister had to acknowledge the scale of the tasks ahead and the various obstacles undermining the national economy: "Economic reality shows us that the private sector has numerous and diverse concerns. These range from improving the business climate and economic financing to taxation, corporate competitiveness, human capital, productive transformation, and infrastructure. It would be difficult to effectively address all these issues within a single, broad framework. That is why the government sought to anchor public-private dialogue within a clear institutional structure." While official media outlets—such as Radio Guira—were quick to hail a reform reflecting "the authorities' determination to strengthen collaboration with the private sector in order to foster an environment more conducive to economic development," the business community remains unconvinced. The business climate in the Central African Republic suffers from a chronic lack of trust; only the concrete and rapid implementation of these announcements will determine whether this initiative represents genuine progress or merely a political PR exercise.

LNC

Date: September 8, 2026

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