VZCZCXRO6557
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO
DE RUEHLC #0547/01 3491234
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 151234Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY LIBREVILLE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1575
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE

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. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
Bongo Would Like More Bilateral Cooperation and U.S. 
Investment 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
¶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. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
Recent Successes in Returning Trafficked Children, But More 
Needs to be Done 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
¶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 
 
 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
Challenges Ahead for Gabon in UNSC; Thanks for Help from 
Washington 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
¶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. 
 
----------------------------- 
Terrorism, Piracy, Sudan, DRC 
----------------------------- 
 
¶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 
------- 
 
¶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