Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09LIBREVILLE281
2009-06-12 11:53:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Libreville
Cable title:  

GABON: U.S. INTERESTS IN THE POST-BONGO ERA

Tags:  PGOV PREL PINR GB 
pdf how-to read a cable
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PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO
DE RUEHLC #0281/01 1631153
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 121153Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY LIBREVILLE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1226
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE
RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID 0323
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1021
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LIBREVILLE 000281 

SIPDIS

NSC ALSO FOR AFRICA DIRECTOR MICHELLE GAVIN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR GB
SUBJECT: GABON: U.S. INTERESTS IN THE POST-BONGO ERA

REF: A. GABON 00271

B. GABON 00276

C. GABON 00278

Classified By: DCM Nathan Holt for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

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

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LIBREVILLE 000281

SIPDIS

NSC ALSO FOR AFRICA DIRECTOR MICHELLE GAVIN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR GB
SUBJECT: GABON: U.S. INTERESTS IN THE POST-BONGO ERA

REF: A. GABON 00271

B. GABON 00276

C. GABON 00278

Classified By: DCM Nathan Holt for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

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


1. (C) About a dozen African heads of state, French
President Sarkozy, AU Chair Jean Ping and other luminaries
are expected in Libreville for Gabonese President Omar
Bongo's June 16 state funeral. Drawing on our excellent
condolence message, any U.S. delegation should honor Bongo's
memory and focus on our key interests going forward. These
include peace and stability in Gabon and throughout central
Africa; a democratic transition; and continued support for
Gabon's continental leadership in environmental preservation.
End Summary.

--------------
Heads of State Expected
--------------


2. (U) About a dozen African heads of state are expected to
attend Gabonese President Omar Bongo's funeral June 16, along
with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and delegations from
Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Japan will be represented
by a former Minister of Justice. Other delegations are being
formed. President Denis Sassou-Nguesso (Republic of
Congo-Brazzaville) and Francois Bozize (Central African
Republic) are already in Gabon. African Union Chair Jean
Ping, Bongo's long-serving foreign minister and father of two
of his grandchildren is also expected. The Bongo family's
wide network includes some in the entertainment world, and
the American-Senegalese rap artist Akon was among the
mourners who appeared on Gabonese television June 11.


3. (U) A large delegation of family members and others
accompanied Bongo's body to Libreville June 11 in an aircraft
provided by King Juan Carlos of Spain. Bongo died June 8 in
Barcelona.

--------------
U.S. Interests
--------------


4. (C) Senior Gabonese officials have repeatedly praised the
condolence message from President Obama released June 9. The
message received prominent play in the Gabonese press. The
two themes of the message, Gabon's role in promoting regional
peace and stability, and its commitment to environmental
protection, resonated particularly well. Those elements

remain the cornerstone of U.S. interests in Gabon, and should
be amplified by other officials in coming days.


5. (U) Gabon faces a difficult transition, with
constitutionally-required elections expected within 45 days
of Bongo's death. Gabon passed the initial tests, with power
transferred to former Senate President Rose Francine Rogombe
on June 10 in a ceremony presided over by the President of
the Constitutional Court Marie Madeleine Mborantsuo.


6. (C) Minister of Defense Ali Bongo, the late president's
son, has made it clear he intends to seek the presidency. On
June 11 he sent an emissary to the Ambassador and other
representatives of "friendly nations" to reiterate what he
has been saying publicly: as minister of defense, Ali Bongo
is committed to preserving the Gabonese constitution and
democratic practices. Others in the current scramble to
succeed President Bongo have made similar declarations.
Gabon's partners should be firm in encouraging close
adherence to the constitution throughout this period.


7. (C) Gabon's role in regional peace and security
initiatives will decline, but hardly disappear, in a
post-Bongo era. Any successor would likely continue Gabon's
support for the Libreville-based Economic Community of
Central African States (ECCAS, French acronym CEEAC),the
focus of AU security initiatives in the region. This, too,
should be encouraged by international partners. We expect
Gabon to work closely with its neighbors on maritime
security, also a priority for the U.S. in the Gulf of Guinea
region.


8. (C) Gabon's leadership in environmental protection
likewise deserves continued strong international backing.
Bongo's decision to set aside 11 percent of the national

LIBREVILLE 00000281 002 OF 002


territory for national parks and preserves, a decision made
with specific encouragement from the United States, has no
parallel we are aware of on the continent. The preserved
environments are irreplaceable and under threat from mineral
and petroleum development. Gabon's forests, both protected
and otherwise, form a critical part of the Congo Basin forest
complex, second only to the Amazon in its size and importance
in mitigating the effects of climate change. Gabon is also
active in international climate change talks as a responsible
voice for the Congo Basin countries.

--------------
Political Transition Underway
--------------


9. (U) The constitutional mechanics of transition in Gabon
are relatively straghtforward: interim president Rogombe has
up to 45 days to organize an election. She has full
presidential powers until then, but may not stand for
election herself, call a referendum, amend the constitution
or dismiss parliament. As explained by Constitutional Court
president Mborantsuo, that schedule may only be delayed by an
act of "force majeure", duly recognized by the Court.


10. (C) Typically, "force majeure" refers to war, civil
unrest, natural catastrophies and other disasters. Many on
the political landscape, however, believe Gabon will need
more time to prepare its electoral list and conduct a
presidential campaign. Whether the court would recognize
these interests as "force majeure" is unknown.


11. (C) Allies of Minister of Defense Ali Bongo say they are
confident he will win the nomination of the ruling Parti
Democratique Gabonais (PDG) and go on to win the election.
They admit, however, that Bongo must stitch together an
ethnic coalition and overcome significant hostility among
elite politicians and the general public to the creation of a
Bongo dynasty. Bongo's assiduously cultivated image as a
reformer is also at odds with the political dealmaking he
must now do to secure power.


12. (C) Though Ali Bongo is preparing a presidential
campaign, he is not alone. There are persistent reports of
tensions between Ali and his powerful sister Pascaline Bongo,
currently chief of staff in the presidency. Opposition
leaders have also been conferring in recent days, though at
this point it appears unlikely that a consensus opposition
candidate will emerge. Less certain is whether the PDG will
remain intact if Ali Bongo, or some other candidate, secures
the nomination without placating powerful regional and ethnic
interests.

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


13. (C) The pageantry of President Bongo's funeral will be
impressive, not least because of the African luminaries
likely to assemble. Our focus, however, should be on
honoring the positive aspects of Bongo's legacy while and at
the same time encouraging Gabon's new leadership to hold a
fair election and continue to support key
initiatives--environmental protection and regional peace and
security--that are at the heart of U.S. interests here. End
Comment.
REDDICK