collective on foreign affairs
2nd September 2023
I] Introduction
The military coup in the Central African country of Gabon against long-serving President Ali Bongo Ondimba, (World Socialist Web Site) who’s been in office since 2009 after succeeding his father who ruled for 42 years from 1967-2009, is being hailed by many observers as the continent’s latest anti-imperialist victory. They drew comparisons to the spate, and spread, of West African coups in Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso, and most recently Niger to reach their conclusion that this former French colony is rising up against Paris, too.
While it is true that the optics extend credence on this perception, and France does indeed have a wide range of economic interests in Gabon besides basing several hundred troops there, it must be said arguably premature to connect that country’s latest regime change to this trend. There are three reasons to be cautious on this situational matter:
- Firstly, the Interim President General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguemais considered close to the US. In fact, channel Rybar has had cited their French sources to report that the US had been cultivating Oligui to replace Bongo, but the timeline pace was pushed up to seize the political initiative before latent socio-economic processes threatened to spiral into another bonafide anti-imperialist revolution (Left Voice), and the forthcoming XV BRICS Summit in Johannesburg.
2. Secondly, certain economic factors are more significant than geopolitical ones in Gabon; as an instance, Gabon has one of the highest GDP per capita in Africa due to its natural resource wealth (such as diamond, gold, petroleum, natural gas, niobium, cement, phosphate rock, manganese, uranium, and iron ore) but a small population. Indeed, 30% of its trade surplus comes from China according to the International Trade Center. The Observatory for Economic Complexity’s data confirms this, and CGTN disclosed figures that China has been Gabon’s top trade partner for nine consecutive years.
3. Thirdly, and a primier point one needs to highlight at this juncture – on these Sahel countries alignment with the “Amerafrique” model ala Latin America regime change praxis – and the consequently Associated Press’ report: that coup leaders accused Bongo of irresponsible governance that risked leading the country into chaos, thus putting him under house arrest and detaining several of his Cabinet members.
Meanwhile, the African Union Peace and Security Council had met to announce the immediate suspension of Gabon from “all activities of the AU, its organs and institutions” until the country restores constitutional order – very much not unlike what ECOWAS dictated to Niger.
This short essay shall present Gabon close ties with China prior to the Amerafrique charade.
II] Gabon relations with China
Promoting China-Gabon relations in an in-depth and sustained manner meets the common and long-term interests of the two countries, and sets an important example of advancing the building of a human community with a shared future. China is ready to work with Gabon to promote the steady and sound development of China-Gabon comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.
III] China’s Position
Xi Jinping has emphasized that China is advancing high-quality development and Chinese modernization on all fronts, and Gabon is dedicated to achieving the strategic goal of building an “Emerging Gabon” at an early date. China is ready to work with Gabon to increase experience sharing on national governance, deepen strategic mutual trust, and firmly support each other on issues involving their respective core interests and major concerns. China firmly supports Gabon in pursuing a development path suited to its own national conditions, and stands ready to strengthen strategic synergy with Gabon, advance cooperation in such fields as infrastructure development, forestry, fishery, digital economy and industrial park development, support Gabon in realizing economic diversification and industrial upgrading, promote green Belt and Road cooperation, and set a good example of South-South cooperation on climate response.
The two sides would deepen cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and strengthen cooperation in such areas as tourism, rural revitalization, poverty alleviation and agricultural development. The two sides should also strengthen strategic cooperation at multilateral platforms including the United Nations, to safeguard world peace and development, and international fairness and justice, as well as the common interests of developing countries.
China is ready to work with Gabon to make greater strides in bilateral friendly cooperation as the two sides celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
IV] Peaceful Coexistence
Xi Jinping has pointed out that the world today is faced with multiple challenges and interwoven crises. China and African countries need to strengthen solidarity and cooperation more than ever. The two sides should carry forward the spirit of China-Africa friendship and cooperation, adhere to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and other basic norms governing international relations, sternly oppose any form of hegemonism and power politics, oppose interference in other countries’ internal affairs, and promote the building of a human community with a shared future.
China firmly supports Africa in pursuing a unique independent path of development, advancing food security, industrialization, and green development, and in becoming an important pole in world development politically, economically and culturally, and stands ready to provide Africa with new opportunities with its new development, and make China-Africa practical cooperation a prime example of South-South cooperation and international cooperation with Africa.
V] Gabon’s Policies
Bongo had said that he was very honored to pay a visit to China upon invitation shortly after President Xi Jinping’s reelection, and he would like to extend once again congratulations on the success of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and China’s Two Sessions, noting that these two grand events not only demonstrate the Chinese people’s great trust in President Xi Jinping, but also make Gabon more convinced that China will continue to score more achievements on its path toward prosperity and development. Gabon stays firmly committed to the one-China policy, and supports the important visions proposed by President Xi Jinping such as the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the building of a human community with a shared future.
Gabon and China have deep political mutual trust, and always respect and support each other.
He thanked China for providing the country with long-standing and precious assistance and playing an important role in promoting economic diversification and industrialization in Gabon, and expressed the hope that the two sides will further strengthen cooperation in such fields as infrastructure, agriculture and tourism.
Bongo further noted that Gabon welcomes Chinese enterprises’ participation in its industrial park development, and stands ready to provide an enabling environment for Chinese enterprises. Gabon looks forward to grandly celebrating with China the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries next year, consolidating and deepening friendly cooperation, and advancing the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two sides.
Gabon and China have shared or similar positions on many international affairs, and both advocate respecting each country’s sovereignty, oppose interference in other countries’ internal affairs, and oppose politicizing human rights issues and adopting double standards.
Gabon is ready to continue to strengthen multilateral strategic coordination with China, and work for better development and greater achievements of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and Africa-China relations.
After the talks, the two heads of state jointly witnessed the signing of multiple bilateral cooperation documents in such fields as investment, agriculture, housing and urban development, and climate response.
Finally, the two sides issued a Joint Statement between the People’s Republic of China and the Gabonese Republic on the Establishment of a Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership.
Firestorms 