Gabon: Libreville and Airaines seal their friendship on the grave of Charles Ntchorere

80 years after his death defending France, Gabonese Captain Charles Ntchorere is honored through a friendship pact signed on February 23 between his hometown, Libreville, and the town where he took his last breath, Airaines. Beyond the tribute, this twinning opens the way to enhanced cooperation between the two cities.

On February 23, the town of Airaines and the municipality of Libreville signed a historic pact of friendship and decentralized cooperation, under the sign of brotherhood. Concluded by Mayor Albert Noblesse and Special Delegate Jude Ibrahim Rapontchombo, this agreement pays tribute to Gabonese Captain Charles Ntchorere, who died for France in Airaines in 1940, while also laying the foundations for common projects.

© D.R.

Born in Libreville, Charles Ntchorere died on June 7, 1940 in Somme, while his regiment courageously resisted the Wehrmacht. His sacrifice symbolizes the commitment of African soldiers during World War II. It is therefore only natural that this agreement was signed between the two municipalities in the presence of the Gabonese Ambassador to France.

Their decentralized cooperation will be structured around four axes: brotherhood, heritage tourism, culture, and sports. The goal is to increase exchanges, meetings, and mutual discoveries between the citizens of the two cities. An annual tribute to Captain Ntchorere will also be organized in Libreville and Airaines under the auspices of the French and Gabonese authorities.

“This pact is of particular importance as it honors an illustrious son of Gabon, an officer who served in the French army during World War II. He remains a symbol of the commitment of African troops to France,” said General Rapontchombo. This historic twinning goes beyond the simple municipal framework.

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