Cameroon-Gabon ties: Biya says talks with Oligui Nguema fruitful, cordial.

The Head of State made the assessment in a tweet on his X, formerly Tweeter handle, on Wednesday. This was shortly after the audience he granted the Gabonese military leader at the Unity Palace.

The Gabonese Head of State was in Cameroon for a 24-hour official visit at the invitation of President Paul Biya. Emerging from the audience, Biya tweeted: “I held a cordial and fruitful discussion with His Excellency General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, President of the Transition and President of the Gabonese Republic”.

Biya’s reading of the contour and denouement of his exchange with the Gabonese leader, many say, gives hope for a new beginning of ties between both countries. 

General Oligui Nguema received a special gift from President Biya. He also in turn, offered the Head of State a special gift, which he said symbolises Biya’s towering influence as a patriarch and an inspiration to African youths. 

At best, the extra significance is that such a fresh start comes under complex circumstances that have continued to mutate since the August 30, 2023, coup in the neighbouring country.

The President’s comment for some, signals a thaw in uncharted corners of relations between both countries, since the military seized power in Gabon. 

Both Biya and his guest are reported to have spent time revisiting the over six-decade relationship between both countries and the need to address contemporary concerns together.

Meanwhile, the Presidency of the Republic, reported on its website that both leaders emerged from Noveber 6 meeting having “reached a consensus to open a new, dynamic and rosy diplomatic chapter aimed at consolidating the long-lasting and excellent bilateral relations that exist between the friendly neighbouring countries”. 

Biya listening to visiting Oligui Nguema during audience 

In the spirit of continuity, the Presidency said the offshoot of Wednesday’s meeting between Biya and Oligui is a renewed commitment like it has been in the past “to seeking and finding common grounds on many bilateral and multilateral subjects of mutual interests”.

The two leaders are also said to have talked of the need for adjustments at Subregional and bilateral levels to enhance socio-economic cooperation and boost trans-border regional security. 

Restructuring the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa, CEMAC, and the Economic Community of Central African States ECCAS, is said to have featured among other things that took the interest of Biya and Oligui.

The Gabonese leader left the Unity Palace yesterday and headed for the Nsimalen International Airport, from where he boarded a special flight back to Libreville. 

Wednesday’s meeting was the first between Biya and the military officer, since he was sworn in as Gabon’s transitional Head of State, on September 4.

Besides meeting President Biya, Brigadier General Oligui Nguema also met with hundreds of Gabonese citizens in Yaounde. 

The Prime Minister, Head of Government, Chief Dr Joseph Dion Ngute, who received and saw off the visitor also in the course of Wednesday, offered a special dinner to Oligui at the Yaounde Hilton Hotel on behalf of the presidential couple.