Equatorial Guinea gives President Museveni highest honour

The award was presented by President Obiang shortly before hosting the Ugandan Head of State and his delegation to a State Dinner at the Presidential Palace in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea’s capital city.

Acknowledging the award, the highest honour bestowed to a respectable guest and who has made an outstanding contribution to the cause of the African continent, President Museveni said he was humbled by the “unexpected award.”

Museveni praised the government of Equatorial Guinea for using well its oil resources, especially in setting up infrastructure.

“I congratulate Equatorial Guinea for using the oil and gas very well. Some people say oil and gas are curses but in Equatorial Guinea it is a blessing, not a curse,” said Museveni, adding “It is only a curse if you are corrupt, not focused and do not use that perishable resource strategically and correctly.”

Equatorial Guinea, which discovered oil in 1996, is currently the third largest producer of oil in Sub-Saharan Africa, averaging 340,000 barrels a day.

President Museveni added that Uganda would copy some of the best practices since it has also discovered oil.

Oneness of Africa

Noting that the Bantu people of Africa originated from around Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon, Museveni said his presence and that of his delegation was to reaffirm the oneness of the African people.

“The people of Africa are either similar or linked and it is crucial we use this oneness to build strength and prosperity,” he said. “While watching some of the cultural performers who were entertaining me, I noticed striking similarities with Ugandan performances. The long drums, the rhythms are very similar to those of the Rwenzori Mountains.

He hailed the good relations between Uganda and Equatorial Guinea, saying “being in Equatorial Guinea is therefore linking up with our own brothers.”

He said a railway from the port cities of Mombasa, Dar-es-Salaam or Doula to the heartland of the continent, would greatly advance this cause.

“The only problem we have now is limited infrastructure to link us. The easiest way is to start with air transport and telephones. But eventually, we must then solve the problem of the railway from the Indian Ocean to the centre of the continent.”

According to Museveni, his visit to Equatorial Guinea, therefore, was hinged on two targets; looking at how to support prosperity of each other but also focus on the question of strategic security.

Africa in the past, said Museveni, had issues of independence and democracy. However, with independence of South Africa in 1994, those hurdles were cleared and now focus was on prosperity and security.

On his part, President Obiang thanked his guest for honouring his invitation, saying the two countries were steadily growing their bilateral and multi-lateral ties catalyzed by shared political similarities.

“At a political level, we believe in defence and sovereignty of our nations. We also believe in Pan-Africanism for self-determination and reliance,” he said, adding that the countries also shared economic and technological ties.

It is these similarities that had encouraged the two countries to sign cultural, science and technological agreements to create a stable welfare for both of them, said Obiang.

The Equatorial Guinea leader visited Uganda in April this year and the two countries signed bilateral agreements to cover the fields of cultural, technological and foreign affairs cooperation.

Museveni’s four-day visit will see him tour the Port of Malabo, the Punta Europa Oil Refinery, inspect the Port of Bata, visit the Afro-American University in Djibloho and the High Institute of New Technologies there.

The Ugandan delegation includes the Energy Minister,  Irene Muloni, International Affairs State Minister, Okello Oryem and Land Forces Commander, Maj Gen Peter Elwelu, among others.