Gabon is taking part in the 81st United Nations General Assembly, which opened on 22 September in New York, United States, with a new responsibility inside the organisation. Elected in June as vice-president of the Assembly, Libreville is formally joining the Bureau of the body for the first time during this session.
That position adds weight to Gabon’s presence in New York. It comes as Libreville seeks to deepen its commitment to multilateralism and push its priorities on major international issues. Marie-Édith Tassyla-Ye-Doumbeneny is leading the Gabonese delegation in that context.
High-level representation on behalf of the president
Mandated by President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, Integration and Diaspora is representing the head of state at the high-level meeting. Her mission goes beyond simply attending the proceedings: she carries the president’s message and orientations at one of the main events on the global diplomatic calendar.
Coordination and treaty signatures on the sidelines
Ahead of the general debate, a coordination meeting was held at Gabon’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations to align the delegation’s positions. On the margins of the 81st General Assembly, she signed on behalf of the Gabonese state the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) and the treaty on combating cybercrime. Several government departments are mobilised around priorities including climate, forest and ocean protection, health, housing and digital transformation.
A first test of Gabon’s new role
Beyond sectoral issues, this 81st session is the first test of the new responsibility entrusted to Gabon within the General Assembly Bureau. It gives Libreville an additional platform to defend its interests and strengthen its partnerships. One of the highlights of this participation is expected tomorrow, 26 September. At the UN podium, Marie-Édith Tassyla-Ye-Doumbeneny will deliver the country’s official address on behalf of Gabon and in representation of the president.
