Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Burhanettin Duran represented Türkiye at the inauguration ceremony of Gabonese President Brice Oligui Nguema on Saturday, as Gabon officially transitioned from military to civilian rule.
According to a statement shared by the Turkish Foreign Ministry on social media platform X, Duran attended the ceremony in Libreville on behalf of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and in response to an official invitation from the Gabonese government.
The inauguration follows Gabon’s presidential election on April 12, which marked the end of the country’s transitional military government. Nguema, who led the August 2023 coup that ousted long-time President Ali Bongo, won the election with 94.85% of the vote, becoming Gabon’s new civilian leader.
The April vote came months ahead of the initially pledged timeline, following a November 2024 referendum on a new constitution. That constitution abolished the position of prime minister, authorized Nguema’s presidential candidacy, and established a seven-year term with a two-term limit.
Nguema’s inauguration is seen as a pivotal moment in Gabon’s post-coup democratization, ending over five decades of Bongo family rule and setting the stage for a new era of governance.
Strengthening Türkiye-Gabon Ties
Gabon, a key crude oil producer in Sub-Saharan Africa and home to the world’s third-largest renewable water reserves, has seen growing engagement from Turkish companies in recent years. Firms from Türkiye have invested particularly in the construction and energy sectors.
In 2024, the two countries signed an agreement to avoid double taxation, reinforcing bilateral trade ties. The deal was signed on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, reflecting Ankara’s broader diplomatic outreach to African nations.
Türkiye also maintains educational and cultural ties in Gabon through the Turkish Maarif Foundation, which operates schools in Libreville offering kindergarten to high school education.
Duran’s presence at the inauguration signals Türkiye’s endorsement of Gabon’s return to civilian governance and its interest in expanding political, economic, and educational cooperation with the Central African nation.
Read next
17:00
Riyadh Meeting
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan convened in Riyadh for the second session of the Turkish-Saudi Coordination Council, aiming to strengthen ties and address regional challenges.
14:03
High-level peace talks
A trilateral meeting between delegations from the United States, Ukraine, and Türkiye ended in Istanbul on Friday. The one-hour session, led by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, focused on a peaceful resolution to the Russia–Ukraine war.
11:00
Central Asia
On May 15, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev received a Turkish delegation led by Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz to strengthen the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, particularly in trade and investment.
23:31
Diplomatic efforts resume
Ukraine and Russia have initiated their first direct peace talks in over three years in Istanbul. The absence of Presidents Zelenskyy and Putin casts uncertainty over the potential for significant progress.
16:30
World News
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has called for compromise between Russia and Ukraine, emphasizing Türkiye's hope for fruitful discussions as peace talks between the two nations are set to begin in Istanbul.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment