Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07LIBREVILLE167
2007-04-18 14:18:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Libreville
Cable title:  

GABON REACTS TO EQUATORIAL GUINEAN ACCUSATIONS ON

Tags:  PREL PGOV EPET EK GB 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0001
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLC #0167 1081418
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 181418Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY LIBREVILLE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9666
INFO RUEHYD/AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE 0792
RUEHKI/AMEMBASSY KINSHASA 1375
RUEHLU/AMEMBASSY LUANDA 0954
RUEHNJ/AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA 0425
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0881
C O N F I D E N T I A L LIBREVILLE 000167 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER
YAOUNDE PLEASE PASS MALABO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/18/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV EPET EK GB
SUBJECT: GABON REACTS TO EQUATORIAL GUINEAN ACCUSATIONS ON
BORDER DISPUTE

REF: A. 2006 LIBREVILLE 580

B. 2006 LIBREVILLE 598

C. 2006 LIBREVILLE 627

D. MALABO 40

Classified By: DCM Katherine Dhanani. Reason: 1.4 (b) & (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L LIBREVILLE 000167

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER
YAOUNDE PLEASE PASS MALABO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/18/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV EPET EK GB
SUBJECT: GABON REACTS TO EQUATORIAL GUINEAN ACCUSATIONS ON
BORDER DISPUTE

REF: A. 2006 LIBREVILLE 580

B. 2006 LIBREVILLE 598

C. 2006 LIBREVILLE 627

D. MALABO 40

Classified By: DCM Katherine Dhanani. Reason: 1.4 (b) & (d).


1. (U) On April 16 the GoG publicly responded to GREG
accusations that the Gabonese have obstructed the UN
mediation effort on the Gabon-EG border dispute. Para 3
contains an informal translation of the Gabonese statement.


2. (C) During an April 12 meeting with Ambassador, Vice Prime
Minister/ Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean Ping complained
about the GREG's public posturing, noting that the Gabonese
government "prefers not to conduct diplomacy by megaphone."
MFA legal advisor Michel Biang, the author of the Gabonese
response, told DCM on April 18 that the GoG was downplaying
the matter publicly to avoid "throwing fuel on the fire."
ForMin Ping has been called to brief the National Assembly on
the status of the border dispute on Monday, April 23. Biang
said that in his view Gabon has exhausted the UN mediation
efforts, as well as efforts by other parties, including the
Cameroonian attorney (Ref A) and the King of Morocco. Biang
noted that President Bongo called publicly for recourse to
the ICJ in October when the Geneva meeting was canceled. In
contrast with reports in Malabo (Ref D),Biang thinks the GoG
has made its preference clear, but, he said, the GoG is
concerned that the GREG has not agreed to submit the dispute
to the ICJ.


3. (U) Text of Gabonese statement:

Following the statements of the EG Foreign Minister before
the EG Parliament meeting in Bata on April 10, in which he
accused Gabon of blocking the settlement of the territorial
dispute between Gabon and EG, the Gabonese government is
astonished and indignant by these irresponsible and untrue
remarks.

The Gabonese government emphasizes that it undertook in good
faith to find a peaceful solution to the dispute with its
neighbor by accepting the mediation of the UNSG, despite the
existence of a legal texts clearly granting Gabon sovereignty
over the islands at issue.

Gabon's good faith was evident and remarkable in its
participation in all the meetings called by the mediator as
well as its responsiveness to all the mediator's requests,
contrary to the unfounded accusations of the EG Foreign
Minister.

Gabon has spared no effort to foster a climate of peace and
serenity both domestically and internationally in order to
give the UNSG's mediation every opportunity to succeed.

End text.


4. (C) Comment: Gabon now appears intent on submitting the
dispute to the ICJ, unless a new and promising mediation
opportunity appears. The potential for a politically-palatable
diplomatic compromise has been all but destroyed by public
controversy in Gabon.
WALKLEY