Following the recent change in regime in Gabon, President General Brice Olegé Nguema welcomed on Friday 6, Abdullah Sbihi, the Moroccan Ambassador to the presidential palace hall featuring a comprehensive map of Morocco.
President Nguema engaged in fruitful discussions with the Moroccan Ambassador to Gabon regarding various topics of common interest.
The president took to X (previously known as Twitter) to share the details of their exchange.
Aujourd’hui, j’ai échangé avec l’Ambassadeur du Maroc, Abdellah Sbihi, au sujet de l’avancement du processus de transition et de la contribution du Maroc.
Nous avons exploré notre coopération bilatérale. J’ai réaffirmé notre engagement pour un partenariat transparent et… pic.twitter.com/l2WIlHte8b
— Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema (@oliguinguema) October 6, 2023
“Today, I spoke with the Ambassador of Morocco, Abdellah Sbihi, about the progress of the transition process and Morocco’s contribution. We explored our bilateral cooperation,” according to Nguema’s official account on X.
President Nguema also underscored his country’s commitment to boosting transparent and respectful partnerships with all brotherly countries.
In response, Ambassador Sbihi reaffirmed Morocco’s support for Gabon and its commitment to strengthening South-South cooperation.
“The ambassador assured of the support of Morocco and that of other diplomatic missions for strengthening South-South cooperation,” said President Nguema.
The meeting between President Nguema and the Moroccan ambassador was held in a setting that carries special significance, showcasing the strong Morocco-Gabon relations and their commitment to bilateral cooperation.
Within this significant setting, the Gabonese president adorned in a military attire featured the insignia of the military academy from which he graduated, standing in front of a backdrop that displayed the entire map of Morocco, encompassing all its territorial domains including the Moroccan Sahara.
The display of a comprehensive map of Moroccan territories mirrors the stance of the current regime and the strong bilateral Moroccan-Gabonese relations.
Morocco and Gabon share a long history of good bilateral relations and cooperate on trade, investment, and security levels.
The newly appointed President in Gabon spent many years in the Kingdom of Morocco, as he was sent as military attaché in 2009 after the death of Bongo senior, for whom he served as aide-de-camp.
He also resided in Meknès and received his military education at the Royal Military Academy, which has produced many high-ranking officers in the Moroccan army.
Last August, a military group headed by Brice Oligui Nguema conducted a military coup placing former President Ali Bongo Ondimba under house arrest.
The Gabonese military group seized power from Bongo, who has been in office for 14 years, shortly after declaring him as president of the country for a third term.
In response, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates commented, “Morocco trusts the wisdom of the Gabonese nation, its driving forces, and its national institutions, to move forward toward a perspective that will enable it to act in the supreme interests of the country, safeguard the gains made, and meet the aspirations of the brotherly Gabonese people.”