Gabon aids Russia in bypassing aircraft sanctions amid coup
The ruling military junta of the small nation of Gabon is assisting the Russian Federation in bypassing sanctions imposed for its invasion of Ukraine. It sells parts for aircraft to Russia, among other things. Only last year, it delivered parts worth £1.2 billion to Moscow, even though they are not manufactured in this country.
In 2023, sanctioned aircraft parts worth nearly £1.5 billion were exported to Russia, of which £1.1 billion came from the Gabon-registered company Ter Assala Parts.
Gabon, with a population of about 2 million people, while not one of the poorest countries in Africa, does not produce any components needed for aircraft production itself, as noted by PAP.
However, the agency reports that the country sells Russia oxygen masks, onboard computers, ground collision warning systems, and fuel level indicators, as well as second-hand American engines for Boeing 737 and Airbus A320/A321 aircraft.
The Gabon flag on the masts of Putin's shadow fleet
According to "The Moscow Times" a few months ago, the Gabonese company is backed by an unknown citizen of the Central Asian republic of Kyrgyzstan, and Ter Assala Parts is likely a front company registered in another country, conducting business through Gabon.
The export of aircraft parts from Gabon to Russia began in August 2023, the same month that the military conducted a coup, overthrowing President Ali Bongo Ondimba, who was replaced by General Brice Oligui Nguema.
The coup also meant the loss of previous favour from Western countries, which Russia took advantage of, almost immediately hoisting the Gabon flag on the masts of its tankers transporting sanctioned oil. Previously, it had to remove the flag of another West African country, Liberia, which ceased servicing Russian ships under pressure from the USA.
According to a recent Bloomberg report, the registered gross tonnage (GT) of ships in Gabon increased from just over 1 million in 2022 to 3 million in 2023, and by April 2024, reached 7.4 million GT. This increase reflects the number of ships registered in Gabon; in 2023, there were 126, and by April 2024 - 217. Nearly all of them serve Russian tankers bypassing sanctions.
