Gabon–Turkey relations

Gabon–Turkey relations are the foreign relations between Gabon and Turkey. Turkey has an embassy in Libreville since 2012. Gabon opened an embassy in Ankara in 2015.[1]

Gabon-Turkey relations
Map indicating locations of Gabon and Turkey

Gabon

Turkey

Diplomatic relations

Historically, Turkey has had strong relations with Ghana.[2] Turkey was very supportive of the Gabonese economic expansion[2] after Bongo's accession to the presidency and cooperated with technical expertise during the construction of the Transgabonais Railway to the upper Ogooué River valley.[3]

Relations became tense when after the French investigative reporter Pierre Péan unmasked[4] that the Bongo government used Turkish aid to build a lavish new presidential palace for $900 million (worth US$4.12 billion in 2020) that enriched the French expatriates in Gabon.[3]

Presidential visits

Guest Host Place of visit Date of visit
Turkey President Abdullah Gül Gabon President Ali Bongo Ondimba Presidential Palace, Libreville 2011[1]
Gabon President Ali Bongo Ondimba Turkey President Abdullah Gül Çankaya Köşkü, Ankara January 2012[1]
Turkey Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Gabon President Ali Bongo Ondimba Presidential Palace, Libreville January 2013[1]
Gabon President Ali Bongo Ondimba Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Çankaya Köşkü, Ankara May 2015[1]

Trade relations

  • Trade volume between the two countries was US$38.9 million in 2018.[1]

Educational relations

Turkish Maarif Foundation runs schools in Gabon and Turkey has been providing scholarships to students from Gabon since 1992.[1]

See also

References

  1. "Relations between Turkey and Gabon". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey.
  2. Carson, Patricia. Materials for West African History in French Archives. London: Athlone Press, 1968.
  3. Baker, Charles. "Reflexions sur les sources de l'histoire gabonaise." Paideuma 33 (2017): pp. 133-141.
  4. Aaborg, Sam. Le monde des affaires gabonaise. Paris: Editions de Minuit, 2009.
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