The United States announced on October 23, 2023 that it was suspending the “ largest part » of their aid to Gabon, in response to the coup d’état of August 30 which overthrew Ali Bongo Ondimba. However, the US State Department points out that humanitarian, health and education aid are not affected by this decision.
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The United States suspends its aid to Gabon : the Department of State announced it in a press release, this Monday, October 23, 2023. This is the legal consequence of the qualification of a “coup d’état” concerning the overthrow of Ali Bongo by the army, on the 30 last August.
“ US concludes military coup took place in Gabon […] and suspend most U.S. assistance to the government », underlines the text.
The formal qualification of a “coup d’état” legally obliges the administration to this suspension. It follows a “ pause » declared a month ago, the “ time for an evaluation “.
The State Department recalls in passing its support for a “ sustainable transition to civil governance “, and the ” shared security interests in the Gulf of Guinea “. A recovery will also be considered “ at the same time as concrete actions “.
However, the United States points out that humanitarian, health and education aid are not affected, which makes this decision mainly symbolic, with Washington having little involvement in the country.
The United States believes that a military coup has taken place in Gabon. We are suspending most of our aid to the government of Gabon. Humanitarian aid, health and education continues. Recovery depends on concrete actions to restore democracy.
— USA en Français (@USAenFrancais) October 24, 2023
Judd Devermont, special advisor to the President of the United States, Joe Biden, met on October 19 with General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, Gabon’s new strongman, and Prime Minister Raymond Ndong Sima in Libreville.
He assured that Washington was ready to strengthen its partnership with Gabon, once power was returned to civilians. The leader of the Gabonese transition assured him that he wanted to eventually organize democratic elections.
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