Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, the Gabonese head of state, welcomed five new ambassadors yesterday at the Palais du Bord de mer during a credentials ceremony. This event marks the formal start of their diplomatic missions in Gabon and reflects the country’s active foreign policy and the trust placed in it by international partners.
The new diplomats include Apostolic Nuncio Mgr Relwende Kisito Ouedraogo, the ambassadors extraordinary and plenipotentiary from Chad (Fadoul Kitir Zakaria), Iran (Seyed Gholamreza Mirmohammad Meigoni), Djibouti (Mohamed Bourhan Ali), and the High Commissioner of Australia, Leilani Bin-Juda. All will reside outside Gabon.
These five envoys open a fresh chapter in the relations between their respective nations and Gabon, which is committed to strengthening bonds with traditional allies while diversifying partnerships. The accreditations of the Apostolic Nuncio and the Chadian ambassador underline the enduring excellent historical ties between Gabon, the Holy See, and that neighbouring country. The arrival of Australia’s High Commissioner signals a revitalised engagement between Libreville and Canberra, highlighted by Australian company Fortescue’s involvement in the integrated Belinga project and its associated logistics corridor. Similarly, with Iran, new avenues for cooperation across many sectors are emerging. With Djibouti, Gabon is expected to advance its ambitions in green economy, port infrastructure, and maritime security and defence, as President Oligui Nguema stated during his May visit for the inauguration of counterpart Ismail Omar Guelleh.
Overall, this momentum supports the transformation and development process that Gabon has been pursuing for three years under the highest authorities of the republic.
