Gabon

U.S. Africa Command Public Affairs United States Africa Command Stuttgart, Germany January 20, 2023 U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley, Commander, U.S, Africa Command, visited Gabon, Jan. 17-18. The trip included several stops to meet with host nation civilian and military leaders, U.S. Embassy leadership. “Our enduring relationship with Gabon helps support regional and maritime security in the Atlantic,” Langley said. “We’re grateful for our strong and evolving partnership here, and the continued cooperation to help strengthen security in the region for years to come.” During his first visit to Libreville, Gabon, Langley met with President Ali Bongo Ondimba and Minister of Defense Felicite Ongouori Ngoubili to discuss shared security interests, opportunities to increase multilateral training engagements and future areas of potential cooperation. “It was an honor to visit Gabon to meet with national leadership and discuss how we can enhance our partnership,” Langley said. “We look forward to training together during Obangame Express, which will further our collective ability to uphold international maritime law, secure the seas, and enable regional economic prosperity.” Traveling with Langley, U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Richard Thresher, command senior enlisted leader, U.S. Africa Command, met with Colonel Maurice Ntossui, the Gabonese Army Deputy for Operations at the Gabonese Armed Forces Headquarters in Libreville. During the visit, Thresher discussed prospects related to the Africa Enlisted Development Strategy. “It was good to engage with Gabonese leadership and discuss new ways to educate the enlisted force,” Thresher said. “Matching experience with education raises the level of any professional organization. I look forward to our continued and future engagements.” The military of Gabon has participated in Exercises Judicious Response and Obangame Express and regularly attend U.S. Africa Command’s annual Chief of Defense and Senior …

Addis Ababa, 29 August 2022 - As African leaders meet in Gabon for the start of Africa Climate Week, child rights campaigners are warning that the climate crisis threatens to undermine child rights across the continent unless governments listen to the voices of young people and children. According to the Children’s Climate Risk Index, 490 million children in 35 sub-Saharan countries are at risk from the worst impacts of climate change, and at least 11 million children across the continent face food insecurity due to extreme weather events including drought and floods. “Climate change undermines children’s rights to health, life, dignity and education, and increases the risks of violence and displacement from climate-related conflict and disasters,” said Dr Joan Nyanyuki, Executive Director of African Child Policy Forum (ACPF). “While everyone is impacted by climate change, children and young people in Africa will bear the brunt in the coming decades.” Africa Climate Week aims to galvanise action by African governments ahead of November’s COP 27 UN climate change summit, being held in Egypt. “Governments, cities, the private sector and financial institutions have all been invited to take part in Africa Climate Week. High level discussions are all very well, but where are the voices of children and young people?” asked Dr Nyanyuki. “Half of Africa’s population is under the age of 20. They are the ones who will suffer most from extreme weather events and climate-related disasters, from the long-term impacts of increased poverty, lack of investment and inadequate infrastructure.” Faced with the unfolding climate catastrophe, ACPF is hosting a major conference on climate change and child rights in Africa just a few days after the Africa Climate Week. The Ninth International Policy Conference (IPC), being held in Addis Ababa from 6-7 September, aims to highlight the urgent need for financial investment and economic policies to prevent and respond to the …