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Gabonese delegation in Benin to apologize for embassy attack

Xinhua, April 17, 2015 Adjust font size:

A Gabonese delegation led by Foreign Minister Emmanuel Issoze Ngondet, arrived in Cotonou on Wednesday to deliver a personal apology from President Ali Bongo Ondimba to his Beninese counterpart Boni Yayi over last Sunday's attack on Benin's Embassy in Libreville, diplomatic sources said Thursday.

Ngondet said Gabon's government had "strongly condemned the destruction and burning of Benin's Embassy in Libreville by some individuals on April 12, 2015."

"We are in Cotonou to express our solidarity and apologies of our president to his Beninese counterpart and brother, over this unfortunate incident," the foreign minister said after meeting with the president.

The Gabonese chief diplomat said the acts of destruction had violated the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

"The acts that led to the burning of Beninese Embassy in Libreville were isolated acts. The protests were not meant to oppose Beninese interests in Gabon," he affirmed.

He said Gabonese authorities had taken measures not only to secure the embassy, but also to protect Beninese nationals and their properties across the entire national territory.

Benin's Embassy in Libreville was razed down on April 12 by protesters after the announcement of the death of Gabon's opposition leader Andre Mba Obame, following a long illness. Endi