Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07LIBREVILLE449
2007-10-09 16:54:00
SECRET
Embassy Libreville
Cable title:  

GABON CONFIRMS WILLINGNESS TO HOST AFRICOM ELEMENT

Tags:  MARR PREL GB 
pdf how-to read a cable
O 091654Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY LIBREVILLE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9927
INFO AMEMBASSY GABORONE IMMEDIATE 
AMEMBASSY MONROVIA IMMEDIATE 
SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
S E C R E T LIBREVILLE 000449

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/09/2017
TAGS: MARR PREL GB
SUBJECT: GABON CONFIRMS WILLINGNESS TO HOST AFRICOM ELEMENT

REF: A. LIBREVILLE 0413

B. STATE 140052

Classified By: CDA Nathan Holt for reasons 1.4 (a),(b) and (d).

--------------
Summary
--------------


2. (S/NF) Gabon continues to welcome the idea of hosting an
AFRICOM element, Foreign Minister Jean Ping told CDA October

9. Gabon sees AFRICOM's mission as consistent with Gabon's
national interest and Gabon is willing to help persuade
others in the region to be more accommodating. Ping advised
us to consult further with influential Minister of Defence
Ali Bongo, "although I already know what he will say." Bongo
has previously confirmed his support for hosting an AFRICOM
element in Gabon. Ping confirmed that the DOD/State
technical team described Reftel is welcome in Gabon as soon
as arrangements are in place for their visit. End Summary.

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Gabon Still Ready
--------------


3. (S/NF) Gabon remains willing to host an AFRICOM element,
Foreign Minister Jean Ping told CDA and DATT October 9. The
concept is not new, Ping said, and Gabon has repeatedly
confirmed its position in dialogue with senior U.S.
diplomatic and military personnel (Ref. A). The joint
DOD/State technical survey team (Ref. B) is likewise welcome,
Ping confirmed.


4. (S/NF) Minister of Defence Ali Bongo should be consulted
in advance of the technical team visit, Ping said, "although
I already know what he will say." Ali Bongo, the son of
Gabonese President El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba, confirmed
three weeks ago that Gabon is still willing to host an
AFRICOM element. CDA has requested another meeting with the
defence minister to reconfirm this understanding and pave the
way for the expected visit of the technical survey team.

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Interests Coincide
--------------


5. (S/NF) Ping stressed that Gabon had long been an advocate
of security cooperation among the states of Central Africa
and the Gulf of Guinea. The Gulf of Guinea Commission was
Gabon's idea, Ping claimed, and Gabon continues to play an
important role in regional security initiatives. He cited
President Bongo's efforts at the China-Africa summit in
November 2006 on behalf of peace in Darfur, Gabon's pressure
on former Chadian leader Goukouni Oueddei to reconcile with
N'djamena, and its continuing leadership in FOMUC, the
EU-backed peacekeeping force in Central African Republic.


6. (S/NF) Gabon supports the fight against terrorism, Ping
continued, and reached its decision about AFRICOM
independently. Others in the region are not so favorably
disposed toward the U.S. initiative, he admitted. Angola,
"with one foot in SADCC and one in CEEAC" is particularly
problematic, Ping said. He added that Gabon would be willing
to help the U.S. persuade Angola to adopt a more positive
attitude. Ping said he was dismayed by AU Chairman Alpha
Oumar Konare's recent statements rebuffing AFRICOM. Konare
did not speak for Africa, Ping claimed, only "for himself."


7. (S/NF) CDA and DATT emphasized that no decisions had been
reached about the location of potential AFRICOM sites. CDA
asked Ping for a honest assessment of the Economic Community
of Central African States (ECCAS, or CEEAC in its French
acronym). CEEAC is among the weakest of Africa's regional
groupings, Pin said. Most of its member states have been at
soe point in the last two decades, and some member sates
remain unstable. To be an effective interntional
organization, Ping said, CEEAC needs insttutional
strengthening and better personnel. Neertheless, Ping
asserted, CEEAC is slowly improving as a regional security
mechanism.

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Comment
--------------


8. (S/NF) Gabon's senior political leadership is clearly
ready to host an AFRICOM element. Any establishment of an
AFRICOM presence here, however, should be part of a concerted
diplomatic and public relations effort that includes the
central African region, not just Gabon. End Comment.

HOLT