Gabon’s transitional president, who ousted the chief of the central African nation on the finish of August, acquired a present of assist from the neighbouring Republic of Congo on Sunday 1 October 2023 after he met his counterpart, aiming to enhance relations and ease Gabon’s isolation.
Basic Brice Oligui Nguema overthrew Ali Bongo Ondimba, 64, who had dominated Gabon since 2009, moments after he was proclaimed the winner in a presidential election in late August.
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Did Gabon expertise election fraud?
The election consequence was branded a fraud by the opposition and the army coup leaders, who had additionally accused his regime of widespread corruption and dangerous governance.
Underneath the presidency of Ali Bongo, relations between Gabon and neighbouring Congo had been notoriously tense. Oligui mentioned his go to was aimed toward enhancing the ties and easing Gabon’s worldwide isolation following the coup.
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“I’ve come to seek the advice of, to debate, to change with (the president), who for us is a key within the area, who can relay to international authorities what we have now finished,” Oligui mentioned after holding talks with Congo President Denis Sassou Nguesso.
“Additionally it is to ease the sanctions… we hope to as soon as once more take our place among the many nations,” Oligui mentioned. Gabon was suspended from the African Union and the Financial Neighborhood of Central Africa States (ECCAS) after the change of presidency.
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ECCAS to switch its headquarters
ECCAS has additionally ordered the fast switch of its headquarters from Gabon’s Libreville to the Equatorial Guinea capital, Malabo.
The Congo president didn’t handle reporters after the talks, however his International Minister, Jean-Claude Gakosso, hailed Oligui as “a person of humility and reconciliation.”
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“I feel that the Gabonese ought to assist him and, other than the Gabonese, the Congolese. Additionally, our brothers in central Africa”, he informed reporters.
“We all know that there was a change in Libreville,” Gakosso mentioned. “The primary factor is that there was no bloodshed.” “We have now not often seen this, a forceful change of regime with out bloodshed.”
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Gabon-Congo relationship
“The Congo and Gabon are, in actuality, the identical nation. We have now to work tirelessly to have good relations,” he mentioned. The go to marked the second abroad journey by Oligui, who was sworn in final month as Gabon’s interim president.
The talks had been held close to Oyo, in central Congo. Oligui, carrying inexperienced army fatigues and a beret, was greeted by the prime minister and a pink carpet when he landed.
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Many in Gabon noticed Ali Bongo’s overthrow as an act of liberation moderately than a army coup. Oligui has promised to carry “free, clear and credible elections” to revive civilian rule however has not given a timeframe.
© Agence France-Presse
