(C) KUDOS AND FOLLOW-UP FOR REPORTING ON GABON'S

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 106749

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2034
TAGS: PINR GB
SUBJECT: (C) KUDOS AND FOLLOW-UP FOR REPORTING ON GABON'S
ELECTION AND PRESIDENT-ELECT

REF: A. LIBREVILLE 000416

B. LIBREVILLE 000412

C. LIBREVILLE 000405

D. LIBREVILLE 000400

E. LIBREVILLE 000399

F. LIBREVILLE 000398

G. LIBREVILLE 000397

H. LIBREVILLE 000395

I. LIBREVILLE 000387

J. LIBREVILLE 000386

K. LIBREVILLE 000349

L. LIBREVILLE 000344

M. LIBREVILLE 000338

N. LIBREVILLE 000336

O. LIBREVILLE 000321

Classified By: MICHAEL P. OWENS, ACTING DIR, INR/OPS. REASON: 1.4(C).


1. (C/NF) US EMBASSY LIBREVILLE HAS PROVIDED EXCELLENT
REPORTING (SEE REFTELS) ON GABON'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
PROCESS, CANDIDATES, AND OUTCOME THAT HAS BEEN INVALUABLE TO
WASHINGTON ANALYSTS WHO TRACKED THE ELECTION AND COMPLETED
VARIOUS WRITTEN PRODUCTS AND BRIEFINGS, INCLUDING A
LEADERSHIP PROFILE ON THE PRESIDENT-ELECT. AS TIME AND
RESOURCES ALLOW, WE WOULD HIGHLY VALUE ANY ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION ON BONGO'S LEADERSHIP STYLE AND HOW IT IS
EXPECTED TO AFFECT GOVERNMENT OF GABON (GOG)/GABONESE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDG) DECISIONMAKING. THIS INFORMATION WILL
BE USED IN A LEADERSHIP ASSESSMENT GEARED TOWARD US
POLICYMAKERS WHO WILL BE MEETING WITH BONGO. WE WOULD
APPRECIATE POST,S ATTENTION TO THE QUESTIONS BELOW.


A. (C) HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE BONGO'S PERSONALITY? WHAT
VALUES/BELIEFS/BEHAVIORS DOES BONGO HOLD MOST DEARLY, AND
RESPECT MOST IN OTHERS (I.E. TRUTHFULNESS, LOYALTY,
RESPECTFULNESS, ETC)? WHAT CULTURAL NORMS/VALUES/RELIGIOUS
BELIEFS/ETC. HAVE MOST INFLUENCED BONGO AS A PERSON AND AS A
LEADER? ARE THERE ANY PAST OR PRESENT GABONESE, AFRICAN, OR
WORLD LEADERS WHO HAVE INSPIRED BONGO OR SERVED AS STRONG
ROLE MODELS IN HIS PERSONAL OR POLITICAL LIFE?


B. (C) HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE BONGO'S MANAGEMENT STYLE
(MORE OF AN "IDEA MAN" OR MORE OF A "MICROMANAGER")?


C. (C) WHO ARE THE MEMBERS OF BONGO'S INNER CIRCLE, AND
WHAT, IF ANY, CHARACTERISTICS DO THEY HAVE IN COMMON
(POLITICAL BELIEFS, ETHNICITY, EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND,
PERSONALITY TYPE, CHILDHOOD FRIENDS, A MIX, ETC.)? WHO ARE
THE KEY MEMBERS OF THE "RENOVATORS" THAT HE HAS BEEN
ASSOCIATED WITH IN THE PAST, AND IS HE STILL MORE CLOSELY
ALIGNED TO THIS GROUP, OR IS HE NOW MORE CLOSELY ALIGNED WITH
OLD GUARD MEMBERS OF THE RULING PARTY? WHO MAKES UP HIS
PERSONAL SECURITY DETAIL?


D. (C) DOES BONGO BEHAVE DIFFERENTLY WHEN HE IS IN MEETINGS
WITH LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE HE DOES NOT KNOW WELL OR VIEWS
AS RIVALS THAN HE DOES IN ONE-ON-ONE MEETINGS WITH PEOPLE HE
FEELS MORE COMFORTABLE WITH? DOES HIS BEHAVIOR CHANGE AS HE
GETS TO KNOW THE PERSON HE IS MEETING WITH BETTER (I.E. IS HE
MORE COMFORTABLE THE MORE OFTEN HE MEETS WITH SOMEONE)?


E. (C) HOW COMFORTABLE IS BONGO IN DEALING WITH THE PRESS?
DOES HE READ FROM PREPARED STATEMENTS? DOES HE FEEL AT EASE
ANSWERING QUESTIONS WITHOUT A SCRIPT? DOES HE GET NERVOUS
BEFORE MEETINGS WITH LARGE GROUPS OR WITH THE PUBLIC/PRESS?
DOES HE LIKE BEING IN THE SPOTLIGHT?


F. (C) HOW DOES BONGO BEHAVE WHEN HE IS IN MEETINGS WITH
FOREIGN ADVISERS WHEN HIS CLOSE ADVISERS ARE PRESENT? DOES HE
TEND TO SPEAK ON EVERY ISSUE HIMSELF, OR DOES HE LET HIS
ADVISERS SPEAK ON HIS BEHALF? HOW DOES BONGO BEHAVE WHEN HE
IS NOT WITH ANY ADVISERS? DOES HE TEND TO SPEAK FREELY OR
DOES HE FREEZE UP? ARE THERE ANY PARTICULAR SUBJECT AREAS
THAT HE APPEARS EITHER PARTICULARLY COMFORTABLE OR
PARTICULARLY UNCOMFORTABLE SPEAKING ABOUT (ECONOMICS, FOREIGN
POLICY, HEALTH, EDUCATION, ETC)?


G. (C) WHAT POLICY ISSUES DOES BONGO FEEL THE MOST
PASSIONATE ABOUT AND WHY? WHAT ISSUES DOES HE PLAN TO FOCUS
HIS DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN POLICY AGENDAS ON? HOW WILLING IS HE
TO INCLUDE OPPOSITION MEMBERS OR RULING PARTY MEMBERS THAT
OPTED TO RUN AGAINST HIM IN THE RECENT ELECTION IN HIS NEW
GOVERNMENT (OR DOES HE HOLD A GRUDGE AGAINST POTENTIAL
CHALLENGERS)?


H. (C) HOW DOES BONGO REACT TO VIEWPOINTS THAT ARE
DIFFERENT FROM HIS OWN? DOES HE LIKE TO GET INTO DEBATES WITH
PEOPLE WHO DISAGREE WITH HIM? DOES HE PREFER TO LISTEN TO
THEIR VIEWPOINT, THINK ON IT FOR A WHILE, AND COME BACK WITH
A RESPONSE? DOES HE SURROUND HIMSELF WITH PEOPLE THAT HAVE A
VARIETY OF VIEWPOINTS OR DOES HE PREFER "YES MEN"?


I. (C) HOW IS BONGO VIEWED BY PROMINENT REGIONAL PLAYERS?
WILL HE BE ABLE TO STEP INTO HIS FATHER'S SHOES AS A
RESPECTED REGIONAL MEDIATOR, OR IS HE CONSIDERED A
LIGHTWEIGHT BY HIS NEIGHBORS? IS HE STILL VERY PRO-US?


J. (C) WHAT DOES BONGO LIKE TO DO IN HIS SPARE TIME? HOW
RELIGIOUS IS HE? IS HE A DEDICATED FAMILY MAN?
CLINTON