Gabon and Angola rebuild ties after years of diplomatic tensions

After nearly three years of diplomatic tensions following the 2023 coup in Gabon, relations between Gabon and Angola are entering a new phase of reconciliation and strengthened bilateral cooperation. In a strong diplomatic gesture, Gabonese President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema has been on an official state visit to Angola since Wednesday — his first such visit since taking power after the overthrow of the Bongo regime.

Angola rolls out the red carpet for Gabon’s leader

Angolan President João Lourenço welcomed his Gabonese counterpart with full state honors, including a 21-gun salute, meetings at the presidential palace, speeches before lawmakers and the signing of several cooperation agreements. The highly symbolic visit reflects both countries’ desire to move beyond past tensions and restore political trust. Relations between Libreville and Luanda had sharply deteriorated after the August 2023 coup that brought Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema to power.

Angola had initially opposed the Gabonese coup leaders

Following the military takeover in Gabon, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema toured several Central African capitals in search of diplomatic support. However, Angola stood out as the only country that refused to receive the coup leader at the time. President João Lourenço was also among the African leaders advocating sanctions against Gabon after the overthrow of former president Ali Bongo Ondimba. The diplomatic fallout deepened in December 2023 when Gabon recalled its ambassador from Luanda.

Signs of reconciliation emerged after Gabon’s return to constitutional order

Tensions began to ease after João Lourenço attended the inauguration ceremony of Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema on May 3, 2025, following a presidential election that officially restored constitutional order in Gabon.

In what was seen as a reciprocal gesture of goodwill, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema later agreed to Angola’s request to release the wife and son of former president Ali Bongo Ondimba, who had been detained since the 2023 coup.

An Angolan special aircraft was reportedly sent to discreetly evacuate the Bongo family from Gabon on May 14, 2025.