Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo and Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema at Libreville airport © DR

President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) arrived in Libreville on Friday, greeted by his Gabonese counterpart Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema for a working and friendship visit aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation between the two nations.

Upon landing, crowds of locals gathered to welcome the Congolese leader, creating a lively atmosphere as he made his way through the crowd.

The visit included a solemn stop at the restored Léon Mba Memorial, where President Tshisekedi laid a wreath in honor of Gabon’s first president, a key figure in the country’s independence struggle. Following the tribute, he reviewed Léon Mba’s biography and observed a moment of silence accompanied by the national anthem.

The Gabonese presidency highlighted this gesture as part of a broader commitment to honor those who shaped Africa’s path to freedom. The visit concluded with the Congolese president signing the memorial’s guestbook.

No details were disclosed regarding the agenda of bilateral talks between the two heads of state or the economic and diplomatic topics discussed during their meeting.

On Saturday, President Tshisekedi visited the presidential palace for a one-on-one meeting with his Gabonese counterpart.

Gabon and the DRC, both members of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), share long-standing diplomatic ties frequently reinforced by high-level exchanges between their capitals.