Gabon: US suspends aid to Gabon after military takeover

WASHINGTON: The Biden administration has suspended most non-humanitarian support to Gabon after a navy takeover within the nation final month that was not less than the second this yr in an African nation. Secretary of State Antony Blinken introduced on Tuesday a “pause in sure overseas help packages” to Gabon, pending a assessment of the circumstances that led to the ouster of the nation’s former chief President Ali Bongo Ondimba.
Blinken stated in an announcement that the suspension wouldn’t have an effect on US authorities operations within the oil-rich central African nation. The assertion didn’t elaborate on what US-funded programmes can be affected or how a lot cash can be positioned on maintain.
Gabon is the second nation to have seen a navy takeover following the overthrow of the federal government in Niger earlier this yr. The US additionally suspended some support to Niger however has but to formally decide if what occurred was a coup.
“This interim measure is per steps taken by the Financial Group of Central African States, the African Union, and different worldwide companions, and can proceed whereas we assessment the information on the bottom in Gabon,” Blinken stated. “We’re persevering with US authorities operational actions in Gabon, together with diplomatic and consular operations supporting US residents.”
Earlier this month, Gabon’s new navy chief was sworn in as the pinnacle of state lower than every week after ousting the president whose household had dominated the nation for greater than 5 a long time.
Gen. Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema took the oath within the presidential palace in Libreville. Oligui is a cousin of the ousted President Ali Bongo Ondimba, served as a bodyguard to his late father and is head of the Republican guard, an elite navy unit.
Bongo had served two phrases since coming to energy in 2009 after the demise of his father, who dominated the nation for 41 years, and there was widespread discontent along with his household’s reign. One other group of mutinous troopers tried a coup in 2019 however was shortly overpowered.
The previous French colony is a member of OPEC, however its oil wealth is concentrated within the arms of some – and almost 40 per cent of Gabonese aged 15 to 24 had been out of labor in 2020, based on the World Financial institution. Its oil export income was USD6 billion in 2022, based on the US Vitality Data Administration.