( CNN ) -- President Barack Obama will welcome his Gabonese counterpart to the White House on Thursday , a day after a visit with another African leader . Obama and President Ali Bongo Ondimba will discuss regional issues and bilateral topics . Ondimba was elected in 2009 following the death of his father , Omar Bongo , who had ruled the nation for 42 years . White House press secretary Jay Carney defended the invitation Wednesday when asked whether it was appropriate to invite the leader , whom U.S. officials have accused of corruption . `` Gabon is holding the rotating presidency of the U.N. Security Council ; it 's an important position , '' Carney said at a news briefing . `` Moreover , Gabon has voted in ways that we consider very helpful on issues like Cote d'Ivoire , Libya and Iran . It has been an important ally in our efforts in those countries through the United Nations . '' Obama is meeting with the leader as he does with others `` who have less than sterling '' records , the press secretary said . Though human rights concerns remain an issue in the country , Ondimba has made several reforms , according to Carney . `` So we 're obviously -- we think it 's definitely a worthwhile meeting , '' he said . The tiny Gabon , which has a population of about 1.5 million , is a major oil producer in Africa . His visit comes a day after Obama and Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan discussed regional and global developments . The White House has announced that first lady Michelle Obama will travel to South Africa and Botswana this month .
White House press secretary defends decision to invite the leader . U.S. officials have accused President Ali Bongo Ondimba of corruption .