Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Gabonese President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema held a joint press conference in Ankara on Thursday, underscoring deepening bilateral relations and voicing urgent calls for action to halt the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Speaking at the Presidential Complex following their meeting, Erdoğan described Gabon as a long-standing partner of Türkiye, noting its recent political stabilization. “I hope the parliamentary elections scheduled for the coming months will contribute to the country’s stability and peace,” Erdoğan said, congratulating President Oligui Nguema on his strong popular support.

Erdoğan said the two countries reviewed opportunities for cooperation during bilateral talks and a meeting between delegations. He highlighted Türkiye’s role in major infrastructure and energy projects in Gabon, with Turkish companies undertaking projects worth more than $2.5 billion.

“Our private sector stands ready to contribute, particularly in housing, energy, digital transformation, and mining as part of Gabon’s development strategy,” Erdoğan stated. He added that Türkiye is prepared to share its expertise in agriculture, fishing, science, and technology.

The Turkish president emphasized Ankara’s determination to strengthen ties with African nations under a “holistic, institutional, and systematic” framework. He noted that Türkiye now operates 44 embassies across the continent, compared to only 12 in 2012, while African embassies in Türkiye have reached 38.

Erdoğan praised Gabon for supporting Türkiye’s efforts against FETO and highlighted the role of the Türkiye Maarif Foundation, which has been active in Gabon since 2018. He announced plans to expand the capacity of the Maarif school in Libreville, currently serving nearly 700 students, and to establish new educational facilities.

Turning to the crisis in Gaza, Erdoğan commended Africa’s solidarity with the Palestinian people. “The African continent has been among the strongest in opposing Israel’s massacres in Gaza,” he said. “Our priority is to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to our Gazan brothers and sisters. As the front of humanity, we are obliged to do whatever it takes to stop the oppression in Gaza.”

Erdoğan welcomed recent European moves towards recognizing Palestine, citing France and the UK as examples. He revealed that he had spoken with French President Emmanuel Macron to congratulate him on his decision to support Palestinian statehood.

“Supporting the two-state solution based on the 1967 borders would be one of the most effective responses to Israel’s policy of genocide,” Erdoğan said. He pledged to work with President Oligui Nguema and other partners to increase pressure on Israel, push for a ceasefire, and advance efforts towards lasting peace.

President Oligui Nguema expressed agreement with Erdoğan on the need to stop the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, affirming Gabon’s support for efforts to address the crisis. (ILKHA)