Gabon

revised 15 October 1998

Gabon Information

Map of Gabon with the peoples discussed in "Art and Life in Africa" CD-ROM

General Information for Gabon

Country:

Gabon

Location:

Central Africa

Independence:

August 17, 1960

Nationality:

Gabonese

Capital City:

Libreville

Population:

1,208,436

Important Cities:

Port Gentil, Lambarene, Franceville

Head of State:

Omar Bongo

Area:

267,667 sq.km.

Type of Government:

Republic

Currency:

647.25 CFAF=1 USD

Major peoples:

Fang,Eshira,Bateke,Bopounou

Religion:

Christian 55-75%, Muslim less than 1%

Climate:

Equatorial

Literacy:

63.2%

Official Language:

French

Principal Languages:

Fang, Bateke, Myene, Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi

Major Exports:

Timber, Petroleum, Manganese, Uranium, Crude Oil

Pre-Colonial History

During the last seven centuries, Bantu speaking peoples arrived in the area from several directions to escape enemies or find new land. There are no documents of life before European contact, but art suggests a rich and ancient cultural heritage. Gabon's first European visitors were Portuguese traders who arrived in the 15th century and named the country after the Portuguese word gabao, a coat with sleeves and hood resembling the shape of the Como River estuary. American missionaries from New England established a mission at Baraka in 1849. French explorers penetrated Gabon's dense forests between 1862 and 1887. The most famous, Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza, used Gabonese bearers and guides in his search for the headwaters of Congo River. France occupied Gabon in 1885. In 1910, Gabon became one of the four territories of French Equatorial Africa, a federation that survived until 1959. The territories became independent in 1960 as the Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, and Gabon.

Post-Colonial History

Under the 1961 constitution (revised in 1975 and rewritten in 1991), Gabon became a republic with a presidential form of government. The unicameral National Assembly has 120 deputies elected by universal suffrage, also for a five-year term. In 1990 the government made major changes in the political system. A transitional constitution was drafted in May 1990, as an outgrowth of a national political conference in March and April and later revised by a constitutional committee. Among its provisions are a Western-style bill of rights; creation of a National Council of Democracy, which oversees the guarantee of those rights; a governmental advisor board on economic and social issues; and an independent judiciary. In January 1991, the Assembly passed by unanimous vote a law governing the legalization of opposition parties.

Country:	Gabon
Location:	Central Africa
Independence:	August 17, 1960
Nationality:	Gabonese
Capital City:	Libreville
Population:	1,208,436
Important Cities:	Port Gentil, Lambarene, Franceville
Head of State:	Omar Bongo
Area:	267,667 sq.km.
Type of Government:	Republic
Currency:	647.25 CFAF=1 USD
Major peoples:	Fang,Eshira,Bateke,Bopounou
Religion:	Christian 55-75%, Muslim less than 1%
Climate:	Equatorial
Literacy:	63.2%
Official Language:	French
Principal Languages:	Fang, Bateke, Myene, Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi
Major Exports:	Timber, Petroleum, Manganese, Uranium, Crude Oil
Pre-Colonial History	During the last seven centuries, Bantu speaking peoples arrived in the area from several directions to escape enemies or find new land. There are no documents of life before European contact, but art suggests a rich and ancient cultural heritage. Gabon's first European visitors were Portuguese traders who arrived in the 15th century and named the country after the Portuguese word gabao, a coat with sleeves and hood resembling the shape of the Como River estuary. American missionaries from New England established a mission at Baraka in 1849. French explorers penetrated Gabon's dense forests between 1862 and 1887. The most famous, Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza, used Gabonese bearers and guides in his search for the headwaters of Congo River. France occupied Gabon in 1885. In 1910, Gabon became one of the four territories of French Equatorial Africa, a federation that survived until 1959. The territories became independent in 1960 as the Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, and Gabon.
Post-Colonial History	Under the 1961 constitution (revised in 1975 and rewritten in 1991), Gabon became a republic with a presidential form of government. The unicameral National Assembly has 120 deputies elected by universal suffrage, also for a five-year term. In 1990 the government made major changes in the political system. A transitional constitution was drafted in May 1990, as an outgrowth of a national political conference in March and April and later revised by a constitutional committee. Among its provisions are a Western-style bill of rights; creation of a National Council of Democracy, which oversees the guarantee of those rights; a governmental advisor board on economic and social issues; and an independent judiciary. In January 1991, the Assembly passed by unanimous vote a law governing the legalization of opposition parties.