Following a military coup in Gabon last month—at least the second in an African country this year—the Biden administration on Tuesday stopped the majority of non-humanitarian aid.
In order to conduct a thorough investigation of the events that led to the removal of the previous president of Gabon, President Ali Bongo Ondimba, Secretary of State Antony Blinken ordered a “pause in certain foreign assistance programmes” for Gabon.
The ban, according to a statement from Blinken, won’t have an impact on American government activities in the oil-rich country of central Africa. What U.S.-funded programmes will be impacted or how much money would be delayed was not specifically stated in the statement.
Following the collapse of the government in Niger earlier this year, Gabon is the second nation to experience a military coup. Although the U.S. hasn’t legally decided if what happened was a coup, it has suspended certain help to Niger.
“This interim measure is consistent with steps taken by the Economic Community of Central African States, the African Union, and other international partners, and will continue while we review the facts on the ground in Gabon,” Blinken said. “We are continuing U.S. government operational activities in Gabon, including diplomatic and consular operations supporting U.S. citizens.”
Less than a week after the president of Gabon, whose family had dominated the country for more than 50 years, was removed from office, the country’s new military leader was ushered in as the head of state.
The oath was taken by General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema in Libreville’s presidential palace. Oligui is the commander of the Republican guard, an elite military squad, and is a cousin of the deposed president Ali Bongo Ondimba. He was also a bodyguard for his deceased father.
Since taking office in 2009 following the passing of his father, who had controlled the nation for 41 years, Bongo has completed two terms in office, and his family’s rule has been widely criticised. In 2019, a different gang of rebellious troops attempted a coup but were promptly defeated.
The former French colony is a member of OPEC, but its oil wealth is concentrated in the hands of a few number of people, and in 2020, the World Bank reported that about 40% of Gabonese between the ages of 15 and 24 were unemployed. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, its oil export earnings were $6 billion in 2022.
