GABON: PRESIDENT BONGO TO STRENGTHEN COOPERATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LIBREVILLE 000547

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR A/C FOR LISA KORTE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2019
TAGS: KHUM KTIP PGOV PREL GB
SUBJECT: GABON: PRESIDENT BONGO TO STRENGTHEN COOPERATION
WITH THE U.S.; MAINTAIN ROLE IN REGIONAL CONFLICT
RESOLUTION

REF: A. A: 09 LIBREVILLE 00539

B. B: 09 LIBREVILLE 00486

Classified By: Ambassador Eunice Reddick for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (c) Summary: In a December 4 meeting with the Ambassador,
Gabon,s President Ali Bongo Ondimba said he would like to
strengthen the good bilateral cooperation that already exists
with the U.S., and pledged to stay involved in facilitating
solutions to regional conflict. President Bongo commented on
the likely vote for independence of southern Sudan and
instability of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as
issues of concern for regional peace and security. He would
like to see more U.S. investment in Gabon, and has made
reducing illegal activity along Gabon's coast, including
trafficking in persons, a priority. He expressed
appreciation for briefings that have already been offered by
Washington to assist Gabon assume its seat on the United
Nations Security Council in January. End Summary.



2. (c) Per Ref A regarding climate change talks in
Copenhagen, the Ambassador met with President Ali Bongo
Ondimba on December 4 to discuss bilateral, regional and
other issues. President Bongo conducted the meeting in
French and fluent English with two aides from his office
present.

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Bongo Would Like More Bilateral Cooperation and U.S.
Investment
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3. (c) President Bongo said he was pleased with the close
bilateral cooperation with the U.S., particularly between our
militaries. He hoped that training, joint exercises, and
exchanges would continue under his successor as Minister of
Defense, Angelique Ngoma. The Ambassador noted some of the
mil-mil activities already scheduled for 2010, including ship
visits under Africa Partnership Station (APS),represent
positive opportunities for cooperation.


4.(c) The President would like to see more interest from U.S.
business in Gabon as he implements his development program
for "Emerging Gabon" He highlighted opportunities for
investment in Gabon,s tourism, mining, and wood sectors.
The Ambassador pointed out the importance of completing a
Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT),and streamlining the
process of setting up a business in Gabon. She presented the
President with a copy of a proposal for a strategic study of
Gabon's rehabilitation and expansion project for petroleum
storage facilities that could qualify for a U.S. Trade and
Development Agency (TDA) grant. The proposal illustrated how
U.S. expertise in the petroleum sector could meet Gabon's
interest in economic growth. She also noted that U.S.
Forestry Service experts, with funding from the Central
African Regional Program for the Environment (CARPE),would
be returning to Gabon to assist with the development of
concessions in the national parks. Continued cooperation
through CARPE would improve Gabon's capacity to manage its
national parks and attract private investors in tourism.

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Recent Successes in Returning Trafficked Children, But More
Needs to be Done
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5. (c) The Ambassador raised U.S. concerns about
trafficking-in-persons, particularly the trafficking of
children from West Africa and neighboring countries into
Gabon. She commended Gabonese authorities for their
interagency coordination and cooperation with UNICEF and the
governments of Benin, Mali and Togo to safely return 25
trafficked children found on board a vessel interdicted along
Gabon's coast in November (ref B). The President said he was
aware of the case, and that instructions were given to
relevant Gabonese authorities to manage it appropriately. He
emphasized that Gabon was a recipient country, and more
needed to be done to stop illegal migration from Gabon's
neighbors. Gabon was doing its part to improve surveillance
of its coast for illegal activity, and to address the
trafficking problem bilaterally with neighboring governments
and in regional meetings. The Ambassador said the U.S. would
continue to help Gabon combat trafficking by providing
training to law enforcement and justice authorities, and to
Gabon's navy to improve coastal surveillance.


LIBREVILLE 00000547 002 OF 002


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Challenges Ahead for Gabon in UNSC; Thanks for Help from
Washington
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6. (c) The Ambassador congratulated the President on Gabon's
election to one of the non-permanent member seats on the U.N.
Security Council. He replied that there was difficult work
ahead in the UNSC, including Iran and nuclear issues, and
appreciated the cooperation that had already been offered
from Washington to Gabon's U.N. Mission in New York. He said
he might visit New York in March when Gabon chairs the
Council.

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Terrorism, Piracy, Sudan, DRC
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7. (c) The President commented on several international
security and regional issues. In response to President
Obama's remarks on Afghanistan, Bongo said that Al Qaida had
to be stopped in Afghanistan or it would expand even further
into Africa where it had already taken root in Somalia and
East Africa. He expressed concern about the Gulf of Guinea
becoming a target for AQ because of its resources and
location as a major trade route. He also remarked that
piracy in the Gulf of Guinea could spread and intensify just
as it has done off the coast of Somalia.



8. (c) The Ambassador asked President Bongo about the
regional issues that were of particular concern to him. He
said the future of Sudan was at stake with the upcoming vote
regarding independence of southern Sudan. Bongo believes
that the result in favor of independence is already
predictable, but will not be acceptable to Khartoum. The
Arab League has also rejected the partition of Sudan as an
acceptable outcome. Bongo added that President Deby is
talking to the southern Sudanese to find a way to defuse
further conflict with Khartoum that could spill over into
Chad. The best solution, Bongo offered, would be for
President Bachir to step down, but that won't happen.
Moreover, the southern Sudanese lack a strong leader in Salva
Kiir. President Bongo said he would stay engaged with other
regional leaders to help facilitate a solution before
conflict engulfs the region.



9. (c) The President is also concerned about the stability of
the Democratic Republic of the Congo if rebel leader
Jean-Pierre Bemba were to be released from prison. Bongo
said he communicates frequently with President Kabila on
matters concerning the Economic Community of Central African
States (CEEAC) and the Economic and Monetary Community of
Central Africa (CEMAC). He mentioned that the CEMAC heads of
state will likely meet in Bangui on December 14, providing an
opportunity for the leaders to discuss regional problems
(NOTE: Embassy contacts have since told us the meeting is
postponed until January. END NOTE.).

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COMMENT
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10. (c) President Bongo was preparing his working visit to
Italy that began later that week when he met with the
Ambassador, but he was already thinking ahead to meetings in
Bangui and Copenhagen. He maintained a full travel schedule
since his investiture in mid-October meeting with
counterparts in neighboring countries and Europe. Bongo made
it clear he intends to stay engaged personally on regional
issues, and ensure Gabon fulfills it responsibilities on
global and multilateral matters. Further consultation with
USUN and Washington will help Gabonese make informed
decisions in UNSC and regional forums. End Comment.
FITZGIBBON