GABON: TELECOMMUNICATIONS STRIKE "SUSPENDED, NOT

C O N F I D E N T I A L LIBREVILLE 000367 SIPDIS AF/C FOR LISA KORTE E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/06/2019 TAGS: ECON ECPS EINT EINV ELAB ETTC GB SUBJECT: GABON: TELECOMMUNICATIONS STRIKE "SUSPENDED, NOT OVER" REF: A. LIBREVILLE 00364 ¶B. LIBREVILLE 336 Classified By: AMB EUNICE REDDICK FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) The strike by Gabon Telecom workers that has crippled Gabon's telecommunications since July has been temporarily halted through accession to Gabonese government requests by parent company, Maroc Telecom. Union leaders informed us that a final decision regarding workers' demands should be made on August 30th, also the date of Gabon's presidential election. The timing is curious, for if prior strike tactics resume on that date, it will render the majority of Gabon's population without Internet or telephone service as election results are being determined. END SUMMARY. -------------- BACKGROUND -------------- ¶2. (C) Gabon's largest communications provider, Gabon Telecom, has been on strike since July 9th. (Reftel A). For weeks the country has suffered economic and communication distress as a result of the striking workers' methods, which reportedly included destruction of telecommunications infrastructure as well as the confirmed halting of cellular telephone and Internet service. -------------- TEMPORARY REPRIEVE -------------- ¶3. (C) After much criticism from the Gabonese press for not responding to the Ministry of Telecommunications request to continue paying striking workers' salaries, General Manager and Chairman of Maroc Telecom, Abdeslam Ahizoune, agreed to do so on a short-term basis. The Secretary General of the workers' union, Synatel (Syndicat des Agents de Telecommunications),Bonjean Immongault, thanked Minister of Communications Laure Olga Gondjout for intervening. However, Immongault promised to be "uncompromising" on the unresolved issues and stated that although service has been temporarily restored, that final decisions regarding the future of the strike would be determined on August 30th. This date coincides with the Gabonese presidential elections (Reftel B). -------------- INTERESTING TIMING -------------- ¶6. (C) There has been much speculation by the Gabonese as to the timing of the strike prior to the elections. This has been fueled by the new deadline by the union. Since the government of Gabon and private shareholders hold a 49 percent share in Gabon Telecom, many question if the shutdown of Internet and telephone services will be tied to the results and reactions of the populace to the elections. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶7. (C) Despite the current resumption of service by Gabon Telecom, there is little confidence that the restoration is likely to last. Gabonese Internet access and telephone service was interrupted after the death of former President Bongo, and, although attributed to problems with an underwater cable, the true cause was never determined. It is possible that the new date for Gabon Telecom workers to decide upon the future of the strike is far from coincidental, and would be perfectly timed to support a communications failure as votes are being counted and the results are becoming apparent. END COMMENT. REDDICK