Space Travel News
AFRICA NEWS
New Gabon president gets show of support in Congo trip
New Gabon president gets show of support in Congo trip
by AFP Staff Writers
Oyo, Congo (AFP) Oct 1, 2023

Gabon's transitional president, who ousted the leader of the central African country at the end of August, received a show of support from neighbouring Republic of Congo on Sunday after he met his counterpart, aiming to improve relations and ease Gabon's isolation.

General Brice Oligui Nguema overthrew Ali Bongo Ondimba, 64, who had ruled Gabon since 2009, moments after he was proclaimed the winner in a presidential election in late August.

The election result was branded a fraud by the opposition and the military coup leaders, who had also accused his regime of widespread corruption and bad governance.

Under the presidency of Ali Bongo, relations between Gabon and neighbouring Congo were notoriously tense.

Oligui said his visit was aimed at improving the ties and easing Gabon's international isolation following the coup.

"I have come to consult, to discuss, to exchange with (the president), who for us is a key in the region, who can relay to global authorities what we have done," Oligui said after holding talks with Congo President Denis Sassou Nguesso.

"It is also to ease the sanctions... we hope to once again take our place among the nations," Oligui said.

Gabon was suspended from the African Union and the Economic Community of Central Africa States (ECCAS) after the change of government.

ECCAS has also ordered the immediate transfer of its headquarters from Gabon's Libreville to the Equatorial Guinea capital Malabo.

The Congo president did not address reporters after the talks, but his Foreign Minister Jean-Claude Gakosso hailed Oligui as "a man of humility and reconciliation."

"I think that the Gabonese should support him and aside from the Gabonese, the Congolese. Also, our brothers in central Africa", he told reporters.

"We know that there was a change in Libreville," Gakosso said. "The main thing is that there was no bloodshed."

"We have rarely seen this, a forceful change of regime without bloodshed."

"The Congo and Gabon are in reality the same country. We have to work tirelessly, have good relations," he said.

The visit marked the second overseas trip by Oligui, who was sworn in last month as Gabon's interim president.

The talks were held near Oyo, in central Congo.

Oligui, wearing green military fatigues and a beret, was greeted by the prime minister and a red carpet when he landed.

Many in Gabon saw Ali Bongo's overthrow as an act of liberation rather than a military coup.

Oligui has promised to hold "free, transparent and credible elections" to restore civilian rule, but has not given a timeframe.

Related Links
Africa News - Resources, Health, Food

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
AFRICA NEWS
Burkina still battling insecurity one year after coup
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (AFP) Sept 29, 2023
When he seized power, Captain Ibrahim Traore set himself "two to three months" to improve security in Burkina Faso, but one year on, jihadist attacks still plague the West African nation. The interim president said at the time of the September 30, 2022 putsch that resolving "several small logistical problems" as well as "consideration" within the army would allow them to regain control. Since then, the new regime has focused on a strong security response to the attacks by groups affiliated to Al ... read more

AFRICA NEWS
AFRICA NEWS
Curiosity Needs an Altitude Adjustment: Sols 3955-3956

"Sombrero Rock": A Case of Case-Hardening?

Did life exist on Mars? Other planets? With AI's help, we may know soon

Big Fan of Rock Bands: Sols 3960-3961

AFRICA NEWS
Chinese researchers explore building underground Moon shelter

Moon crew visits European powerhouse

NASA report looks at societal considerations for Artemis

Germany signs the Artemis Accords

AFRICA NEWS
Webb finds carbon source on surface of Jupiter's moon Europa

Hidden ocean the source of CO2 on Jupiter moon

Juice: why's it taking sooo long

Possible existence of Earth-like planet predicted in Outskirts of Solar System

AFRICA NEWS
Scientists develop method of identifying life on other worlds

Study sheds new light on strange lava worlds

JWST's first spectrum of a TRAPPIST-1 planet

Alien Machines in the Solar System: The Possibilities and Potential Origins

AFRICA NEWS
All engines added to NASA's Artemis II core stage

Historic NASA wind tunnel testing Mars Ascent Vehicle

Third Subscale Booster for future Artemis missions fires up at Marshall

'Anomaly' ends Rocket Lab launch mid-flight

AFRICA NEWS
Astronauts honored for contributions to China's space program

China capable of protecting astronauts from effects of space weightlessness

Tianzhou 5 spacecraft burns up on Earth reentry

Crew of Shenzhou XV mission honored for six-month space odyssey

AFRICA NEWS
Likely asteroid debris found upon opening of returned NASA probe

How OSIRIS-REx is helping scientists study the sonic signature of meteoroids

Three Questions: The first asteroid sample returned to Earth

Major asteroid sample brought to Earth in NASA first

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.