Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07LIBREVILLE40
2007-01-24 12:11:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Libreville
Cable title:
GUINEA REQUESTS TEAR GAS FROM GABON
how-toVZCZCXRO6789 PP RUEHPA DE RUEHLC #0040 0241211 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 241211Z JAN 07 FM AMEMBASSY LIBREVILLE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9533 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA PRIORITY 0967 RUEHKI/AMEMBASSY KINSHASA PRIORITY 1351 RUEHLU/AMEMBASSY LUANDA PRIORITY 0940 RUEHNJ/AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA PRIORITY 0414 RUEHYD/AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE PRIORITY 0753 RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L LIBREVILLE 000040
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
ADDIS FOR USAU; KINSHASA FOR BRAZZAVILLE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2116
TAGS: MOPS PGOV PHUM PINS GV GB
SUBJECT: GUINEA REQUESTS TEAR GAS FROM GABON
Classified By: Ambassador Barrie Walkley for reasons 1.4 b and d
C O N F I D E N T I A L LIBREVILLE 000040
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
ADDIS FOR USAU; KINSHASA FOR BRAZZAVILLE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2116
TAGS: MOPS PGOV PHUM PINS GV GB
SUBJECT: GUINEA REQUESTS TEAR GAS FROM GABON
Classified By: Ambassador Barrie Walkley for reasons 1.4 b and d
1. (C) Gabon's Foreign Minister, Jean Ping, told Ambassador
Walkley that late on the evening of January 23 Guinea's
ambassador to Gabon (Ibrahima Sory Soumah) approached Ping
with the request that Gabon urgently supply Guinea with tear
gas. Soumah said that Guinea's military and security forces
have no tear gas or rubber bullets and have thus had to
resort to live fire in confronting disorder and protesters.
Soumah explained that the request for tear gas was
"humanitarian, a way of saving lives, preventing more deaths."
2. (C) Ping said that President Bongo (who returns from Paris
today) will make the ultimate decision on the tear gas
request. Ping, however, appears opposed -- worried that any
provision of tear gas will be interpreted as an attempt to
maintain Lansana Conte in power. Ping said he told Soumah
that Gabon "will study the matter."
3. (C) Ping also said that he received a call from Alpha
Conde July 23. Conde has many contacts in Libreville,
including a number of cabinet ministers who were Conde's
students in Paris. Conde, who knows Omar Bongo, wants Bongo
to call Conte and ask Conte to step down.QWALKLEY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
ADDIS FOR USAU; KINSHASA FOR BRAZZAVILLE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2116
TAGS: MOPS PGOV PHUM PINS GV GB
SUBJECT: GUINEA REQUESTS TEAR GAS FROM GABON
Classified By: Ambassador Barrie Walkley for reasons 1.4 b and d
1. (C) Gabon's Foreign Minister, Jean Ping, told Ambassador
Walkley that late on the evening of January 23 Guinea's
ambassador to Gabon (Ibrahima Sory Soumah) approached Ping
with the request that Gabon urgently supply Guinea with tear
gas. Soumah said that Guinea's military and security forces
have no tear gas or rubber bullets and have thus had to
resort to live fire in confronting disorder and protesters.
Soumah explained that the request for tear gas was
"humanitarian, a way of saving lives, preventing more deaths."
2. (C) Ping said that President Bongo (who returns from Paris
today) will make the ultimate decision on the tear gas
request. Ping, however, appears opposed -- worried that any
provision of tear gas will be interpreted as an attempt to
maintain Lansana Conte in power. Ping said he told Soumah
that Gabon "will study the matter."
3. (C) Ping also said that he received a call from Alpha
Conde July 23. Conde has many contacts in Libreville,
including a number of cabinet ministers who were Conde's
students in Paris. Conde, who knows Omar Bongo, wants Bongo
to call Conte and ask Conte to step down.QWALKLEY