Mugabe is the dean of all African presidents, says Nguema

President Mugabe is the dean of all African presidents and deserves respect, Equatorial Guinea President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo has said.

In an interview after paying a courtesy call on President Mugabe at his hotel here where the two leaders had a closed door meeting for almost an hour, President Nguema Mbasogo said their discussions centred on the deliberations of the just-ended India-Africa Forum Summit and other developments in Africa.

"I had a long chat with President Mugabe who is the dean of all African presidents," he said. "He is a well-respected statesman and he deserves such respect. Our meeting was on different issues affecting us as Africans as well as reflecting on the just-ended summit.

"A lot of issues were discussed during the summit and it is always important to exchange notes with great leaders like President Mugabe."

South Sudan President Salva Kiir, who also paid a courtesy call on President Mugabe, said: "I came here to brief President Mugabe who is the African Union chairman on the peace process in South Sudan. Everything is in control and I am ready to welcome all the rebels back to South Sudan. In fact, I am waiting for them, even if they come today.

"The meeting with President Mugabe helped us to exchange notes on the peace process in South Sudan and we are very confident that peace will prevail."