Gabon–Republic of the Congo relations

Gabon–Republic of the Congo relations are the bilateral diplomatic relations between Gabon and the Republic of the Congo. The length of the international border between the two countries is 2,567 km.

History

The border between the two countries changed several times during the colonial period, as both were part of the French colonial empire for a long time. The last change to the border occurred in 1947, when the Haut-Ogooué Province was incorporated into Gabon. Most of this border corresponds to the watershed between the Ogooué and Congo River basins.

After decolonization and the attainment of independence in 1960, the border between the two sovereign states became internationally recognized. Starting in the 1970s, several territorial disputes arose, including disputes over the maritime boundary.

In December 1999, a peace agreement was signed in the Republic of the Congo between the government and most leaders of an armed rebellion, mediated by Gabonese president Omar Bongo. President Denis Sassou Nguesso of the Republic of the Congo and a number of senior rebel representatives signed the agreement after the government had achieved significant success on the battlefield. The agreement, mediated by President Omar Bongo of Gabon, called for the cessation of hostilities, amnesty for combatants who voluntarily disarmed, reorganization of the armed forces, and the potential return to democratic governance.

In 2014, the two states signed a protocol to establish a joint commission for resolving border issues.

See also

• Foreign relations of Gabon
• Foreign relations of the Republic of the Congo

References

Republic of the Congo Category:Bilateral relations of the Republic of the Congo