Teodoro Obiang Nguema, who answered questions from Angolan and Equatorial Guinean journalists in Luanda on Tuesday, as part of his state visit to Angola, said that the issue of security in Africa was one of the topics he discussed with his Angolan counterpart, João Lourenço.
Security, development and stability of African governments were at the heart of the conversation between the two heads of state, said Nguema, highlighting that Central Africa, with only problems of unconstitutional changes in Gabon, is doing better than the west.
"We are satisfied because, in Central Africa, the only country that has problems of unconstitutional changes is the Republic of Gabon, which is currently implementing the transition programme based on dialogue for a referendum and now we are awaiting the presidential elections. I think we are much better [compared] to what is happening in West Africa," he said.
For Teodoro Obiang Nguema, given the security issue in Africa – "with difficult political and security problems" – this continent "is the only one" that lacks two seats on the United Nations (UN) Security Council.
"Africa needs to request two seats on the [UN] Security Council with all the prerogatives and the right to veto," he argued.
Speaking alongside his Angolan counterpart, the Equatorial Guinean President stressed that a proposal for two seats for Africa on that United Nations body is underway, signalling the importance of this approach at the level of the African Union (AU).
The President, João Lourenço, will assume the rotating presidency of the AU in February.
With the new leadership of the African Union, Nguema stressed, Africa's effective presence on the UN Security Council should be addressed with the importance it deserves at the next AU summit.
"This is a very important point that we must address at the next African Union summit so that we can present a convincing proposal so that the five member countries of the Security Council are kind enough to grant the African continent two seats on this body," he insisted.
The African Free Trade Area, to facilitate trade and boost African markets, was also one of the points discussed between Lourenço and Nguema.
In his speech, the head of state of Equatorial Guinea also highlighted the excellent cooperation relations with Angola, where he is on a 48-hour visit, stating that the country "is an important nation in Central Africa".
Angola and Equatorial Guinea are members of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) and the Community of Central African States.