Warden Message: Inauguration of president-elect ali-ben bongo ondimba

U.S. Embassy
Libreville, Gabon
October 15, 2009

This Warden Message alerts U.S. citizens to potential safety issues related to the Friday, October 16, 2009, inauguration of Ali-ben Bongo Ondimba as President of the Republic of Gabon.  At present, the situation in Gabon remains calm.  However, both the security situation and traffic conditions are subject to change due to planned road closures along Bord de Mer and visiting dignitaries traveling to Gabon for the inauguration.  The Embassy notes that check-points and the significant presence of Gabonese uniformed security, particularly in and around Libreville, continue and that SMS telecommunication services are currently unavailable.  As a result, the US Embassy in Libreville will be closed on October 16.

American citizens in Gabon are advised to exercise caution around large crowds, and avoid participating in demonstrations.  We wish to remind American citizens that even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly escalate into violence.  American citizens are therefore urged to avoid the areas of demonstrations.

The Embassy urges all American citizens in Gabon or Sao Tome and Principe to register with the Embassy through the State Department’s travel registration website at https://travelregistration.state.gov <https://travelregistration.state.gov> , or to register directly with the Embassy in person.

 

U.S. citizens may contact the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Libreville for further information.  The Embassy is located in Centre Ville on the Boulevard du Bord de Mer, and may be reached at [241] 76.20.03/04 during business hours.  In case of emergency, U.S. citizens may reach a 24-hour duty officer after hours at [241] 07.38.01.71.