Gabon's President Nguema in Congo to improve ties, ease isolation
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The visit marks the second overseas trip by Gabon's transitional President.
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Gabon's transitional president General Brice Oligui Nguema (AFP)
Gabon's transitional President General Brice Oligui Nguema received a show of support from the neighboring Republic of Congo on Sunday after he met with his counterpart Denis Sassou Nguesso, aiming to improve relations and ease Gabon's isolation.
Nguema overthrew Ali Bongo Ondimba, 64, who had ruled Gabon since 2009, moments after he was proclaimed the winner in a presidential election in late August.
The election result was branded a fraud by the opposition and the military coup leaders, who had also accused Bongo's regime of widespread corruption and bad governance.
Under the presidency of Ali Bongo, relations between Gabon and neighboring Congo were tense.
Nguema said his visit was aimed at improving the ties and easing Gabon's international isolation following the coup.
"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," Nguema said after holding talks with Nguesso.
"It is also to ease the sanctions... we hope to once again take our place among the nations," he added.
Gabon was suspended from the African Union and the Economic Community of Central Africa States (ECCAS) after the change of government.
ECCAS has also ordered the immediate transfer of its headquarters from Gabon's Libreville to the Equatorial Guinea capital Malabo.
The Congo President did not address reporters after the talks, but his Foreign Minister Jean-Claude Gakosso hailed Nguema 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 visit marked the second overseas trip by Nguema, who was sworn in last month as Gabon's interim President. The talks were held near Oyo, in central Congo. Nguema was greeted by the Congolese Prime Minister and a red carpet when he landed.
Many in Gabon saw Ali Bongo's overthrow as an act of liberation rather than a military coup. Nguema has promised to hold "free, transparent, and credible elections" to restore civilian rule.
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