On Sunday (Oct. 1), the prime minister of The Congo welcomed Gabon’s new strongman at Ollombo international airport. Then he met with Denis Sassou Nguesso, the president.
Oligui claimed that his visit was intended to strengthen relations and lessen Gabon’s subsequent isolation from the rest of the world.
“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.
The talks were held near Oyo, in central Congo.
“It is also to ease the sanctions… we hope to once again take our place among the nations,” Oligui said.
Following the change in leadership, Gabon was expelled from both the African Union and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS).
Additionally, ECCAS has mandated that its headquarters be moved right away from Libreville, Gabon, to Malabo, the capital of Equatorial Guinea.
Following the negotiations, the president of Congo chose not to speak to the media, but his foreign minister, Jean-Claude Gakosso, praised 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.
