A new Varicorhinus species, V. axelrodi n.sp., is described from the Kouilou (Republic of Congo-Brazzaville) and the Nyanga and Ngounie in Gabon. V. axelrodi differs from all congeners by the combination of the following characters: absence or extreme reduction of barbels, last simple dorsal fin ray weak and flexible, and mouth opening more or less straight. Prior to the present study three species (V. sandersi, V. steindachneri and V. tornieri) were known from the inland waters of Gabon and the Republic of Congo-Brazzaville.