The Sovereign arrived on Monday in Libreville for an official visit to Gabon, last leg of an African tour that included Senegal and Cote d'Ivoire.

    Upon arrival, the sovereign, donning the Great Cross of Gabon's national order, was welcomed by the Gabonese head of state.

    In a speech delivered on this occasion, the sovereign stated that his visit to Gabon, the third one since the sovereign's enthronement, will be an additional milestone in the relationship between the two African countries.

    "There is no doubt in my mind that my visit to Gabon, coupled with the decisions we shall make and the actions we shall agree on, will be another milestone in the broad, meaningful, promising relationship between our two nations", the sovereign said.

    This visit, the sovereign stressed, will help "continue to deepen and expand the scope of our solidarity-based and mutually beneficial partnership. By continuing to rely on our own assets, we will fulfill the legitimate aspirations of our peoples, who share a deep commitment to inter-African cooperation."

    On his part, the Gabonese president stressed that "the strategic partnership between Gabon and Morocco is both historic and exemplary, and the excellence of the privileged partnership between countries exacts that multiform links be consolidated and broadened in various fields of common interest".

    The Gabonese head of state also commended the initiatives taken by HM the King "who succeeded, with determination and pragmatism, to usher important institutional reforms leading to free and transparent elections, consolidation of the rule of law and promotion of women's rights" in the Kingdom.

   "Today, Morocco can rightfully boats to be giving to the world the image of an innovating and modern Kingdom where the will of the people is respected", said the Gabonese president, adding that the regionalization projects and the major economic and social reforms undertaken by the Sovereign "command respect and admiration".

    President Bongo also reiterated "Gabon's unwavering support to the Moroccan initiative to give the Sahara region a large autonomy within the Kingdom of Morocco's territorial integrity and national union".

    HRH Princes Prince Moulay Ismail, Cherif Moulay Youssef and Cherif Moulay Abdellah were present at the dinner.

   Were also present the Sovereign's advisors, Mrs Zoulikha Nasri et Mr. Fouad Ali El-Himma, and other members of the official delegation accompanying the Sovereign, including Habous and Islamic affairs minister, Ahmed Toufiq, agriculture and sea fisheries minister, Aziz Akhannouch, health minister, Houcine El Ouardi, minister-delegate to the interior, Charki Draiss and Morocco's ambassador in Libreville, Ali Bojji.

    On the Gabonese sides, the speaker of the national assembly, the speaker of the senate, the prime minister, members of the Gabonese cabinet, executives of national institutions and other civil and military officials attended the official banquet.