The Prime Minister of São Tomé is in Equatorial Guinea to take part in a Summit of the Central African Economic Community (ECCAS) on the future of Gabon, which has been suspended from the organization since the coup d’état in August.
Patrice Trovoada said that the Summit of ECCAS Heads of State and Government will have as its “main agenda item” the hearing of the President of the Central African Republic, Faustin-Archange Touadéra, who will present the report on the situation in Gabon as the facilitator appointed by ECCAS to accompany the authorities of that country.
“He has done his job and will now present the report, and we will assess this report to see what position we take with regard to the Gabonese Republic, whether the suspension is maintained, whether it is lifted, or whether we take other measures,” said Patrice Trovoada, speaking to journalists at São Tomé airport before traveling to Equatorial Guinea.
The São Tomé and Príncipe Prime Minister said that the measures to be taken would not affect relations between São Tomé and Príncipe and Gabon.
Patrice Trovoada stressed that Gabon’s suspension from ECCAS was a decision taken immediately after the coup d’état, but then the transitional president visited all the ECCAS countries, except Angola, and “explained the situation,” and the Gabonese presented a transition timetable “adopted by consensus by the Gabonese political forces.”
Patrice Trovoada, who was in Gabon last month and met with the transitional president and visited the deposed president, Ali Bongo, stressed that the new Gabonese authorities have been advocating with other international bodies on the situation in the country, so ECCAS’ decision will always be based on “better serving the Gabonese people and also the democratic rule of law”.