Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07LIBREVILLE62
2007-02-01 14:01:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Libreville
Cable title:
GABON AS EL DORADO
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHLC #0062 0321401 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 011401Z FEB 07 FM AMEMBASSY LIBREVILLE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9558 INFO RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 0382 RUEHPC/AMEMBASSY LOME 4047 RUEHCO/AMEMBASSY COTONOU 0628 RUEHNM/AMEMBASSY NIAMEY 1248 RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA 0249 RUEHOU/AMEMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU 0219 RUEHYD/AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE 0764 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0861 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0334
UNCLAS LIBREVILLE 000062
SIPDIS
PARIS/LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHER
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PBTS KTIP PGOV PHSA PHUM SMIG GB
SUBJECT: GABON AS EL DORADO
UNCLAS LIBREVILLE 000062
SIPDIS
PARIS/LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHER
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PBTS KTIP PGOV PHSA PHUM SMIG GB
SUBJECT: GABON AS EL DORADO
1. On January 29, 2007, 75 West African immigrants attempting to
enter Gabon illegally were detained by local authorities as they
disembarked from a boat. The group, which included 65 men, 9 women
and one child, were nationals of Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Niger, Ghana
and Burkina Faso. In an interview with Gabon's daily newspaper
(L'Union),one of the immigrants (from Niger) described Gabon being
viewed throughout West Africa as a land of promise or "El Dorado."
2. According to Lieutenant Herve Chaby-Bion, head of the Gendarmerie
Coast Guard Brigade, illegal immigration to Gabon from West African
countries is alive and well, by land and sea. He estimates, in the
absence of official statistics, that at least one boat per week
enters Gabon's waters with West African immigrants. The size of the
boats, and thus the number of immigrants, varies from small
"pirogues" to commercial vessels. For example, Chaby-Bion recounted
the story of an Asian commercial vessel arriving from Cameroon with
immigrants smuggled in its cargo hold. Most boats, he added,
originate from Oron, Nigeria. The last boat the gendarmerie seized
was in November 2006 and held 48 immigrants.
3. Chaby-Bion stated that the West Africans come to Gabon for
economic reasons. They arrive and do the work Gabonese will not do,
earn higher incomes than they could in their home countries, then
spend the money in their home countries building homes or supporting
family. He stated that despite Gabon's declining oil production,
illegal immigration from West Africa has not slowed in the three
years he has worked at the Gendarmerie Coast Guard Brigade.
4. Comment: In general, West Africans have found success in Gabon
and the Gabonese have accepted them. However, as oil production,
and revenues, decline these immigrants are finding a less and less
welcoming environment. One cabinet minister recently told the
Ambassador that in earlier years many of the immigrants were
physicians, university professors and teachers. Now, the majority
are unskilled day laborers seeking any kind of work - and raising
fear among Gabonese about an increase in crime. Estimates vary, but
there is conjecture that over 20 percent of Gabon's 1.4 million
population may currently be made up of Africans from other
countries.
WALKLEY
SIPDIS
PARIS/LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHER
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PBTS KTIP PGOV PHSA PHUM SMIG GB
SUBJECT: GABON AS EL DORADO
1. On January 29, 2007, 75 West African immigrants attempting to
enter Gabon illegally were detained by local authorities as they
disembarked from a boat. The group, which included 65 men, 9 women
and one child, were nationals of Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Niger, Ghana
and Burkina Faso. In an interview with Gabon's daily newspaper
(L'Union),one of the immigrants (from Niger) described Gabon being
viewed throughout West Africa as a land of promise or "El Dorado."
2. According to Lieutenant Herve Chaby-Bion, head of the Gendarmerie
Coast Guard Brigade, illegal immigration to Gabon from West African
countries is alive and well, by land and sea. He estimates, in the
absence of official statistics, that at least one boat per week
enters Gabon's waters with West African immigrants. The size of the
boats, and thus the number of immigrants, varies from small
"pirogues" to commercial vessels. For example, Chaby-Bion recounted
the story of an Asian commercial vessel arriving from Cameroon with
immigrants smuggled in its cargo hold. Most boats, he added,
originate from Oron, Nigeria. The last boat the gendarmerie seized
was in November 2006 and held 48 immigrants.
3. Chaby-Bion stated that the West Africans come to Gabon for
economic reasons. They arrive and do the work Gabonese will not do,
earn higher incomes than they could in their home countries, then
spend the money in their home countries building homes or supporting
family. He stated that despite Gabon's declining oil production,
illegal immigration from West Africa has not slowed in the three
years he has worked at the Gendarmerie Coast Guard Brigade.
4. Comment: In general, West Africans have found success in Gabon
and the Gabonese have accepted them. However, as oil production,
and revenues, decline these immigrants are finding a less and less
welcoming environment. One cabinet minister recently told the
Ambassador that in earlier years many of the immigrants were
physicians, university professors and teachers. Now, the majority
are unskilled day laborers seeking any kind of work - and raising
fear among Gabonese about an increase in crime. Estimates vary, but
there is conjecture that over 20 percent of Gabon's 1.4 million
population may currently be made up of Africans from other
countries.
WALKLEY