Gabon’s president oligui nguema prepares for pivotal state visit to Paris

In a significant announcement made during France’s National Day celebration on July 14 at the French Embassy in Libreville, Ambassador Fabrice Mauriès confirmed that President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema of Gabon is slated to undertake an official state visit to Paris in the coming days. The diplomat characterized this upcoming event as the “highest possible protocol level” and a “decisive juncture in strengthening our bilateral relationship” between Gabon and France.

Addressing Gabonese officials, members of the diplomatic corps, and representatives of the French community, Mauriès reiterated, “In just a few days, His Excellency the President of the Gabonese Republic, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, will travel to Paris for a state visit, which represents the highest level of diplomatic protocol and will mark a pivotal moment in reinforcing our ties.“

The Ambassador highlighted that this renewed momentum aligns with ongoing dialogues initiated in 2023. He recalled President Oligui Nguema’s official visit to Paris in spring 2024, followed by President Emmanuel Macron’s reciprocal visit to Libreville. Mauriès emphasized that “this partnership, continuously expanding in scope, is undergoing constant redefinition,” asserting that these high-level meetings are charting a fresh course for Franco-Gabonese cooperation.

Reaffirming Paris’s stance regarding the ongoing Gabonese Transition, Ambassador Mauriès declared, “France was not a participant, as it is solely up to the Gabonese people to determine their nation’s fundamental choices.” Nevertheless, he assured that “France has never withdrawn; it remains and will continue to be a trustworthy, loyal, engaged, and resolute partner, committed to assisting the Gabonese in shaping this new collective future.“

Finally, the diplomat revealed that this forthcoming visit is poised to materialize a refreshed vision for economic relations between the two countries. “We will forge a mutually beneficial, win-win partnership, a vision championed by the Gabonese President and confirmed by President Macron as our shared objective,” he stated. He further indicated that “new projects reflecting this vision will be unveiled in Paris in the coming days.“

Since the change of regime in August 2023, Gabon and France have been engaged in a gradual recalibration of their bilateral relations. The reciprocal visits by Presidents Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema and Emmanuel Macron have inaugurated a new phase of political, economic, and security cooperation. The Gabonese head of state’s state visit to Paris is anticipated to signify a further advancement in this rapprochement, with the expected announcement of several strategic initiatives designed to fortify the partnership between the two nations.