Gambiaj.com – (MALABO, Equatorial Guinea) – President Adama Barrow has extended a special invitation to Equatorial Guinea’s President, Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, to preside over the opening of the Forum of Operators to Guarantee the Economic Emergency in Africa (FOGECA). Scheduled to take place in The Gambia from January 31 to February 1, this forum is seen as a critical platform for advancing economic development across the African continent.

In a formal audience held on Friday, January 17, at the People’s Palace in Malabo, President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo received the invitation through Amadou Njie, a special envoy of President Barrow. The meeting, which took place in the Ambassadors’ Room, highlighted the significance of the Equatoguinean leader’s participation in the forum’s opening ceremony.

Speaking to the press, Njie emphasized the importance of Obiang Nguema Mbasogo’s presence, describing him as a “brother” to President Barrow and a central figure whose involvement would inspire both private sector stakeholders and international institutions attending the forum. Njie also underscored FOGECA’s historical roots, noting that it was established in Equatorial Guinea in 2007 and has since become a strategic space for driving Africa’s economic progress.

FOGECA focuses on fostering economic growth in sectors such as infrastructure, mining, energy, agriculture, fishing, trade, and crafts, while also addressing poverty and empowering disadvantaged groups. Its objectives align closely with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which envisions a unified African market and enhanced intra-African trade.

President Obiang, joined by Equatorial Guinea’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Diaspora, Simeón Oyono Esono, praised the initiative. He lauded FOGECA as a platform that supports the establishment of a continental market free of taxes and tariffs, a critical step toward Africa’s sustainable economic growth.

Awaiting President Obiang’s Decision

While expressing support for the forum’s goals, President Obiang did not immediately announce whether he would accept the invitation to chair the event. His communications team has also refrained from making a public statement on the matter.

A Gambian active diplomatic source told The Gambia Journal that President Barrow’s invitation to President Obiang only underscores the importance of collaboration in addressing Africa’s economic challenges and harnessing its vast potential for growth and nothing else.