Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06LIBREVILLE192
2006-03-24 13:36:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Libreville
Cable title:  

GABON AND SAO TOME MISCELLANY 16-22 MARCH

Tags:  PGOV GB TP 
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VZCZCXYZ0003
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLC #0192/01 0831336
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 241336Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY LIBREVILLE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8916
INFO RUEHKI/AMEMBASSY KINSHASA 1240
RUEHLI/AMEMBASSY LISBON 0629
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0280
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0772
RUEHYD/AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE 0604
C O N F I D E N T I A L LIBREVILLE 000192 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
KINSHASA PASS BRAZZAVILLE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/23/2016
TAGS: PGOV GB TP
SUBJECT: GABON AND SAO TOME MISCELLANY 16-22 MARCH

Classified By: POLITICAL OFFICER GLENN FEDZER FOR REASONS
1.4 (B) AND (D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L LIBREVILLE 000192

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
KINSHASA PASS BRAZZAVILLE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/23/2016
TAGS: PGOV GB TP
SUBJECT: GABON AND SAO TOME MISCELLANY 16-22 MARCH

Classified By: POLITICAL OFFICER GLENN FEDZER FOR REASONS
1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (C) GOG Boosts Fuel Prices.

Gabon announced an increase in retail fuel prices of 5.5
percent May 15, satisfying demands from fuel distributors but
angering taxi drivers. Distributors were concerned their
margins were being squeezed because of price caps at the
pump; taxi drivers for their part are concerned it may be
difficult to pass on the increases to public. The increase
did nothing to address the IMF's concern (Libreville 167)
that price controls for products leaving the refinery cost
the government 130 million dollars in 2005 and may cost 180
million in 2006, but provided benefits mostly to Gabon's
wealthier citizens.


2. (C) Ambassador to US center of controversy between Sao
Tome President and Government.

The Sao Tome Government announced to the press March 10 its
dissatisfaction with the appointment of former Foreign
Minister Olvideo Pequeno to be Sao Tome's new Ambassador to
the United States, and the opening of embassies in Washington
and Abuja. According to the statement, the moves did not
follow proper procedure. The government also complained that
funding for the two embassies and the ambassador was not in
the budget approved by the National Assembly. (This echoes
complaints made when funds donated by the government of
Morocco were spent outside budgetary processes.) Prime
Minister Maria do Carmo Trovoada told the Embassy that
article 82 of the constitution did give the president the
authority to appoint ambassadors, but only following a
proposal from the Government; instead, President Menezes
arranged everything quietly and without authorization. Asked
why she raised the issue now (in the middle of an election
campaign) rather than when the nomination was made months
ago, Trovoada claimed she never saw a request from the
Foreign Ministry or a response from the U.S. Government. She
said she had told the President there were no funds to cover
expenses at these two posts. (Note: The Embassy understands
that Taiwan has provided start-up funding for both
embassies.)


3. (U) Disgruntled Military Retirees Torch Trucks and Cars.


Military retirees set fire and destroyed at least four
logging trucks and damaging others on Gabon's major road to
the interior March 7, and are likely behind the burning of
six vehicles in Libreville March 20. The retirees have been
periodically staging demonstrations (including blocking the
main road into Libreville February 13) to push for greater
benefits from the government. Security forces arrested 21
demonstrators March 8, and Government spokesman Rene Ndemezo
Obiang called on demonstrators to give the government time to
resolve the problems; the retirees, for their part, demanded
the release of their comrades, noting that resorting to
barricades was the sole means to make oneself heard in Gabon.
Violence broke out again March 20 in Libreville, with
culprits damaging shop windows as well as burning cars. The
attacks occurred in the district containing opposition leader
Pierre Mamboundou's Libreville residence. Police later
sealed off Mamboundou's compound and confiscated computers
and files; Mamboundou fled to the South African Embassy
(septel).


4. (U) Gabon Checking Dead Birds for Avian Flu.

Ndjole residents reported finding dead birds in their town
the evening of 18 March. Without any clear explanation for
the deaths, the residents decided to report their discovery
to the Ministry of Health. The ministry dispatched a team to
initiate a process to verify if the deaths were an outbreak
of Avian Flu. Coincidentally, Gabon is hosting a regional
conference on Avian Flu sponsored by the World Health
Organization (WHO) that started Monday 20 March.
Participants in the conference do not appear to consider the
funding of dead birds in Gabon a cause for particular
immediate concern.


5. (SBU) Opposition Members Demand Joint Meeting With
President.

Leaders of six opposition parties, including Presidential
Candidate Zacharie Myboto of the UGDD, are pressing demands
for a joint meeting with the President to discuss
irregularities with the electoral system. The group, which
notably does not include Pierre Mamboundou, has also demanded
the presence of international mediators. The Government has
refused the demands, offering instead for the President to
meet with opposition leaders separately and without
international mediators. The story was given fairly
prominent coverage on page three of the Government-controlled
daily "L'Union." A representative of the UGDD asserts that
Mamboundou is not a signatory because he is more interested
in creating "big spectacles" in public.


6. (U) Oil Block Agreements Signed

Sao Tome is set to receive $28.5 million in signature block
bonuses (out of a total of $200 million) from blocks two,
three, and four of the Joint Development Zone (JDZ).
Although Sao Tome normally receives 40% of revenues from the
JDZ, Environmental Remediation Holding Company (ERHC) is
exempt from paying signature bonuses; the amount ERHC would
normally pay is deducted from Sao Tome's share. This is a
consequence of the renegotiation of a 1997 agreement between
Sao Tome and ERHC.

Block Two Block Three Block Four Total

Block Price: $70 million $40 million $90 million $200
million

Nigeria $42 million $24 million $54 million $120
million

Sao Tome $7 million $8 million $13.5 million $28.5
million

ERHC $ 21 million $8 million $22.5 million $51.5
million
(non-payment lost to Sao Tome)
WALKLEY