Gabonese president oligui nguema’s upcoming state visit to Paris hailed as pivotal moment for bilateral ties

French Ambassador Fabrice Mauriès, speaking from the French Embassy in Libreville during the celebration of French National Day on July 14, confirmed that Gabonese President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema is set to undertake a state visit to Paris in the coming days. The diplomat characterized this highly anticipated event as the “highest level of protocol possible” and a “decisive stage in strengthening our relationship” between France and Gabon.

Addressing Gabonese officials, members of the diplomatic corps, and representatives of the French community, Ambassador 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. This represents the pinnacle of diplomatic engagement and will mark a crucial step in deepening our bilateral relationship.”

The Ambassador highlighted that this renewed momentum aligns with the ongoing dialogue initiated in 2023. He recalled President Oligui Nguema’s official visit to Paris in spring 2024, followed by President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Libreville. “This partnership, whose scope continues to expand, is in constant evolution,” Mauriès affirmed, emphasizing that these high-level meetings are charting a new phase in Franco-Gabonese cooperation.

Reaffirming Paris’s stance on Gabon’s political transition, Ambassador Mauriès stated, “France was not a participant in these events, as it is solely up to the Gabonese people to define Gabon’s fundamental choices.” Nevertheless, he assured that “France has never withdrawn its support; it remains and will continue to be a reliable, faithful, engaged, and determined partner, committed to assisting the Gabonese in forging this new collective future.”

The diplomat concluded by announcing that the upcoming state visit aims to solidify a fresh vision for economic relations between the two nations. “We will build the mutually beneficial, win-win partnership that the President of the Gabonese Republic desires, and which President Macron has confirmed aligns with our own vision,” he indicated, adding that “new projects reflecting this vision will be unveiled in Paris in the coming days.”

Since the August 2023 change in leadership, Gabon and France have been systematically overhauling their bilateral ties. The reciprocal visits by Presidents Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema and Emmanuel Macron have initiated a new cycle of political, economic, and security cooperation. The Gabonese head of state’s state visit to Paris is poised to mark another significant milestone in this rapprochement, with several strategic projects expected to be announced, further strengthening the partnership between the two countries.