Public Diplomacy fosters public understanding of American foreign policy by communicating US Government policies in Gabon and Sao Tome and Principe. Public Diplomacy supports and augments official diplomatic activities by interacting directly with the public through various educational, cultural and press-related activities.  The main functions of the section include:

• Public Outreach – field public inquiries about US Government activities in Gabon and Sao Tome and Principe and communicate regularly to the public through the press.
• Educational Advising – provide information on studying in the US.  For more information see Education USA or pass by the Embassy on Tuesdays or Thursdays from 2:00-4:00 or call +241-011-45-71-00.
• International Visitors & Other Exchanges – manage the International Visitor Leadership Program, which sends Gabonese and Sao Tomeans to the US on a professional program.  Other exchange programs are also managed by the section.

The Consular Section’s main responsibilities are American Citizen Services (ACS), Immigrant Visas (IV) and Non-immigrant Visas (NIV). We are located at the Embassy at Sablière  in Libreville, Gabon.The Consular Section is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Friday. All routine ACS and Visa Services are by appointment.

The Embassy is closed on local and American holidays.  For more information you can call +241-011-76-20-03.

The Political-Economic Section analyzes political and economic developments in Gabon and Sao Tome and Principe in support of U.S. government policy goals, including in the areas of security cooperation, governance, economic and commercial ties, and environmental conservation.

The Section maintains an ongoing dialogue with a wide range of Gabonese and Sao Tomean partners both in and out of government and with representatives of the international community and multilateral financial institutions.  The Section provides regular reports to the State Department, including publicly available reports on commercial and human rights-related conditions.

The Embassy website provides the human rights reports for Gabon and Sao Tome & Principe in English, French and Portuguese.  At our website, you may also gain access to the International Religious Freedom report for Gabon, the International Religious Freedom Report for Sao Tome and Principe, and the State Department’s report on trafficking in persons.

The Section is also active in promoting U.S. commercial interests in Gabon and Sao Tome and Principe by encouraging U.S. exports to or investment in those countries.  The Section provides assistance to American companies seeking information on the local markets and to local companies seeking to import American products.  For information, contact your local U.S. Export Assistance Center or reference the Country Commercial Guides for Gabon and Sao Tome and Principe, available via the Market Research Library.

The Political-Economic Section also oversees a number of U.S. Government-funded assistance projects, notably annual funding through the Ambassador’s Special Self-Help (SSH) Program and the Democracy and Human Rights Fund (DHRF) Program.  For more information, see the Bilateral Assistance accordion.

The Defense Attaché Office (DAO) is the liaison between the US Department of Defense (DOD) and the US Ambassador to Gabon and Sao Tome and Principe. The DAO also represents the DOD in its relations with the Ministries of Defense of Gabon and Sao Tome and Principe. Below are the principle activities carried out by the DAO. You can also see the Department of Defense website for more information.

IMET – International Military Education and Training

International Military Education Training (IMET) is a US-funded, worldwide program that sponsors military education and training for participating countries. The program enables Gabonese and Sao Tomean military officers to attend US military schools in Professional Military Education.

Humanitarian Assistance

The DAO has sponsored several humanitarian assistance projects in both Gabon and Sao Tome and Principe.  Additionally, in the past year DAO has delivered excess military medical supplies to hospitals and clinics in both countries.  In July 2005, the Ministry of Health in Sao Tome and Principe received an ambulance, a van, a pickup truck, and a generator as part of this program.

ACOTA – Africa Contingency Operations and Training Assistance

Gabon is currently the only central Africa country participating in the Department of State’s ACOTA program.  The program is designed to train and equip African militaries to participate in peacekeeping missions, with a major focus on training the trainer.

DHAPP – DoD HIV/AIDS Prevention Program

Gabon and Sao Tome and Principe participate in the DoD HIV/AIDS Prevention Program (DHAPP).  The program has provided screening, training, purcahsed testing kits, and distributed condoms and informational brochures.  The program is currently funding the construction of the voluntary counselng center.

Africa Center for Strategic Studies

Several times a year, the DAO in Libreville sends officers and civilian leaders from both Gabon and Sao Tome and Principe to topical seminars all around Africa and the US.  For more information see http://www.africacenter.org/

The DAO also works on various other projects with both Gabon and Sao Tome and Principe.

The Embassy’s bilateral assistance program operates in both Gabon and Sao Tome and Principe. The primary goals of the program are to strengthen democracy, promote human rights, protect the environment and assist local groups in improving basic economic and social conditions in their communities.

Current Programs

Ambassador’s Special Self Help Fund (SSH): The Embassy awards grants from this program to non-governmental organizations and community groups to carry out small development projects. The goal of this program is to encourage community involvement and the use of local resources and expertise to improve basic economic and social conditions of the local community.  For this year’s projects see Latest Embassy News.

Democracy and Human Rights Fund (DHRF): This program aims to strengthen democratic institutions, reinforce democratic values and promote human and civil rights. Project grants are available to non-governmental organizations and community groups.