US to Build Military Warehouse At Libreville Airport

Panafrican News Agency, 25 October 2000

Libreville, Gabon—A senior US defence official has held discussions with authorities in Gabon on the planned construction of a transit warehouse at Libreville airport, officials in the Gabonese capital said.

Kenneth W. Hess, Chief of Staff of the 3rd American Air Force in Europe told reporters Tuesday that the warehouse would serve in emergency operations and humanitarian evacuations in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Exchanging views with Hess, Gabonese Transport Minister, Idriss Ngaricet, said the facility will be perfectly adapted to the materials used by the United States in its military manoeuvres.

He said it would also offer an appropriate framework for training both for Gabonese and American units as well as facilitate training rotations envisaged in West Africa, in 2001.

The Gabonese National Defence Ministry has already acquired 40 percent of the land at the Libreville airport.

Hess' visit ends Wednesday.