Gabonaise

Gabon, officially known as the République Gabonaise (Gabonese Republic), is a resource-rich nation located on the equatorial west coast of Central Africa, bordered by Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, and the Republic of the Congo, with a long Atlantic coastline. The country is renowned for its dense tropical rainforests, rich biodiversity, and substantial petroleum reserves, making it one of Africa’s more prosperous states in terms of per capita income. Despite its small population of around 2.4 million, Gabon exerts regional influence through its oil exports, extensive forest cover, and political stability relative to many of its neighbours.
Since gaining independence from France in 1960, Gabon has experienced alternating phases of authoritarian continuity and reform. The Bongo family dynasty, which ruled for nearly six decades, was overthrown in a 2023 military coup, marking the country’s transition into a new political era under General Brice Oligui Nguema.

Historical Background

Human settlement in present-day Gabon dates back thousands of years, with significant Bantu migrations around the 13th century shaping the region’s ethnic and linguistic landscape. By the 14th century, several centralised kingdoms, including Loango, Orungu, and Ngounié, had emerged as regional trade powers. Portuguese explorers arrived in the 15th century, naming the area Gabão (Portuguese for “cloak”) due to the Komo River estuary’s distinctive shape.
Gabon became integrated into Atlantic trade networks, exporting ivory, timber, and, later, enslaved people. Notably, the Fang, who now form the largest ethnic group, resisted deep involvement in the slave trade.
By the late 19th century, Gabon fell under French colonial control, becoming part of French Equatorial Africa. France developed the colony’s economy through resource extraction and established Libreville as an administrative centre. After World War II, growing anti-colonial sentiment, education, and urbanisation fostered the movement toward independence, which was achieved on 17 August 1960.
Gabon’s first president, Léon M’ba, established a presidential republic, but after his death in 1967, El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba assumed power. His rule, lasting 42 years, was characterised by political centralisation under the Parti Démocratique Gabonais (PDG), which dominated the political landscape even after the introduction of multiparty democracy in the 1990s.
Following Omar Bongo’s death in 2009, his son Ali Bongo Ondimba succeeded him, promoting modernisation but facing accusations of corruption and electoral manipulation. The 2023 coup d’état, led by General Brice Oligui Nguema, commander of the Republican Guard, ousted Ali Bongo after contested elections. The military cited electoral fraud and poor governance as grounds for intervention. Oligui suspended national institutions, launched a transitional process, and was formally elected president in April 2025 with over 90% of the vote, ushering in a new political chapter.

Geography

• Location: Central Africa, on the Atlantic coast, between Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, and the Republic of the Congo
• Coordinates: 1°00′ S, 11°45′ E
• Area: 267,667 sq km (slightly smaller than Colorado, USA)
• Coastline: 885 km
• Topography: Narrow coastal plains, rolling hills, and savannas in the east and south
• Highest point: Mont Bengoué (1,050 m)

Climate: Tropical and humid, with consistently high temperatures and rainfall. Gabon experiences two dry and two rainy seasons annually, moderated by its equatorial location.
Natural resources: Petroleum, manganese, timber, gold, iron ore, diamonds, and hydropower potential.
Land use: Forests cover approximately 91% of the national territory, making Gabon one of the world’s most heavily forested countries and a major component of the Congo Basin ecosystem, the second-largest rainforest on Earth.
Environmental features: Gabon’s 13 national parks protect unique wildlife, including forest elephants, gorillas, chimpanzees, and hundreds of endemic plant species. The Lope-Okanda and Ivindo National Parks are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, underscoring Gabon’s international recognition for environmental conservation.

People and Society

Population (2024 est.): 2,455,105Urbanisation: 91% (2023)Median age: 22 years
Ethnic groups: Fang (23.5%), Shira-Punu/Vii (20.6%), Nzabi-Duma (11.2%), Mbede-Teke (5.6%), Myene (4.4%), Kota-Kele (4.3%), others (30.4%). Foreign nationals constitute approximately 16% of the total population.
Languages: French (official), with local Bantu languages such as Fang, Myene, Nzebi, and Bapounou widely spoken.
Religions:

• Protestant: 46.4%
• Roman Catholic: 29.8%
• Muslim: 10.8%
• Traditional beliefs and others: 6%
• None: 7%

Social indicators:

• Life expectancy: 70.4 years
• Fertility rate: 3.21 children per woman
• Literacy rate: 88.9% (2021 est.)
• Infant mortality: 26.9 per 1,000 live births
• Maternal mortality: 233 per 100,000 live births
• Physicians: 0.52 per 1,000 people
• Access to improved water: 86.9%

Despite urban prosperity, income inequality remains stark, and around 33% of the population lives below the poverty line.

Government and Politics

System of government: Presidential republic (transitional administration)Capital: LibrevilleAdministrative divisions: 9 provinces, including Estuaire (Libreville), Haut-Ogooué, and Ogooué-Maritime.
Head of State: General Brice Oligui Nguema (since May 2025)Legislature: Transitional Parliament consisting of an appointed National Assembly (98 seats) and Senate (70 seats) during the interim period until general elections scheduled for 2025–2026.
Legal system: Mixed framework combining French civil law and customary law.Judiciary: Four supreme courts — Judicial, Administrative, Accounting, and Constitutional — complemented by a Court of State Security. Judges serve renewable seven-year terms.
Political context: The Parti Démocratique Gabonais (PDG) remains influential, though the transitional government has suspended formal party dominance to facilitate democratic reform.

Economy

Gabon’s economy is dominated by the oil sector, which provides around 50% of GDP and 80% of export revenues. Despite high income per capita, wealth distribution is highly uneven. The country also relies on manganese, timber, and gold mining, alongside emerging sectors such as ecotourism and agro-industry.
Economic indicators (2024 est.):

• GDP (PPP): $48.0 billion
• GDP per capita (PPP): $18,900
• Real GDP growth: 3.4%
• Inflation: 1.2%
• Unemployment: 20.1% (youth 36%)
• Poverty rate: 33.4%

Sectoral composition:

• Agriculture: 6.2%
• Industry: 50.9%
• Services: 37.5%

Main exports: Crude oil, manganese, refined petroleum, timber, and vessels.Export partners: China (26%), Indonesia, Spain, Israel, Republic of the Congo.Main imports: Machinery, refined petroleum, iron pipes, and vehicles.Import partners: France (14%), China (13%), South Korea (13%), USA (7%).
Currency: CFA Franc (XAF), shared with other Central African countries.Exchange rate (2024): 606 XAF = 1 USD
Gabon is a member of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) and the African Development Bank (AfDB).

Infrastructure and Energy

Electricity access: 93.5% overall (urban 98.5%; rural 29%).Energy generation (2023):

• Fossil fuels: 51.9%
• Hydroelectric: 47.7%
• Biomass/waste: 0.3%

Oil production: 204,000 barrels per day (2023)Natural gas reserves: 26 billion cubic metres
The government is investing in hydropower expansion and rural electrification, aiming to achieve full access by 2035.

Defence and Security

The Forces Armées Gabonaises (Gabonese Armed Forces) comprise the Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie, Republican Guard, and Fire Brigade.

• Personnel: Approximately 7,000 active-duty troops
• Defence spending: 1.5% of GDP (2024)

The Republican Guard, previously led by President Oligui Nguema, remains the most powerful branch and plays a critical role in both national defence and domestic security. Gabon also participates in regional peacekeeping operations across Central Africa.

Environment and Sustainability

Gabon’s commitment to conservation is among the strongest in Africa. With 88% forest cover, the country serves as a vital carbon sink and a cornerstone of global biodiversity. It maintains 13 national parks, covering 11% of its land area, protecting endangered species and promoting eco-tourism.
Key environmental challenges:

• Deforestation and logging pressure
• Oil-related pollution
• Illegal wildlife poaching
• Urban waste management

Gabon adheres to major international conventions, including the Paris Climate Agreement, Convention on Biological Diversity, and Ramsar Convention, and implements the “Gabon Vert” (Green Gabon) policy to balance resource extraction with environmental protection.

Culture and National Identity

Gabonese culture merges Bantu traditions, French influence, and modern cosmopolitanism. Music, dance, and spiritual practices such as Bwiti, rooted in the use of the iboga plant, remain central to national identity.