Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08LIBREVILLE580
2008-12-15 15:20:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Libreville
Cable title:
GABON SEEKS ALIGNMENT WITH AU ON POSSIBLE UNPKO TO
how-toO 151520Z DEC 08 FM AMEMBASSY LIBREVILLE TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0787 INFO AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L LIBREVILLE 000580
DEPT ALSO FOR AF/E: NOLE GAREY; AF/RSA:
MIKE BITTRICK; AND IO/PSC: TANAZ KHAMBATTA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV KPKO SO GB
SUBJECT: GABON SEEKS ALIGNMENT WITH AU ON POSSIBLE UNPKO TO
SOMALIA
REF: STATE 129524
Classified By: Poloff Leslie Doumbia for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
(C) Gabon, like the US, is concerned about a precipitous
Ethiopian withdrawal from Somalia, according to Michel Biang,
Director of Legal Affairs at the Foreign Ministry. Biang,
however, told DCM December 12 that Gabon would have to
consult closely with former Gabonese Foreign Minister and
current Chairman of the African Union (AU) Jean Ping before
reaching a final position on the proposed United Nations
Peacekeeping Operation (UNPKO) in Somalia. He promised to
immediately relay US points regarding the proposed UNPKO to
both Minister of Foreign Affairs Paul Toungui and to Ping's
personal secretary at the AU, with whom he continues to have
close contact. Since Ping's ascendancy to the chairmanship,
Biang claimed that Gabon has made special efforts to be more
aligned with the AU's policy stances.
REDDICK
DEPT ALSO FOR AF/E: NOLE GAREY; AF/RSA:
MIKE BITTRICK; AND IO/PSC: TANAZ KHAMBATTA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV KPKO SO GB
SUBJECT: GABON SEEKS ALIGNMENT WITH AU ON POSSIBLE UNPKO TO
SOMALIA
REF: STATE 129524
Classified By: Poloff Leslie Doumbia for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
(C) Gabon, like the US, is concerned about a precipitous
Ethiopian withdrawal from Somalia, according to Michel Biang,
Director of Legal Affairs at the Foreign Ministry. Biang,
however, told DCM December 12 that Gabon would have to
consult closely with former Gabonese Foreign Minister and
current Chairman of the African Union (AU) Jean Ping before
reaching a final position on the proposed United Nations
Peacekeeping Operation (UNPKO) in Somalia. He promised to
immediately relay US points regarding the proposed UNPKO to
both Minister of Foreign Affairs Paul Toungui and to Ping's
personal secretary at the AU, with whom he continues to have
close contact. Since Ping's ascendancy to the chairmanship,
Biang claimed that Gabon has made special efforts to be more
aligned with the AU's policy stances.
REDDICK