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)

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SUMMARY
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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.
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BACKGROUND
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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.
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TEMPORARY REPRIEVE
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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).
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INTERESTING TIMING
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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.
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COMMENT
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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