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___ Gabon

A virtual travel guide to the Gabonese Republic. This page aims to give you a broad overview of Gabonese art, culture, people, environment, geography, history, economy and government.
Beside a country profile this page contains links to sources that will provide you with in-depth information about this nation in western central Africa, e.g.: official web sites of Gabon, addresses of Gabonese and foreign embassies, country guides with travel and tourism information on accommodation, tourist attractions, events and more like weather information, maps, statistics and local newspapers from Gabon.

 
 

Gabonese Republic | République Gabonaise

Country Profile


Flag of Gabon
Flag of Gabon

Background:
Only two autocratic presidents have ruled Gabon since independence from France in 1960. Gabon's current President, El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba - one of the longest-serving heads of state in the world - has dominated Gabon's political scene for almost four decades. President BONGO introduced a nominal multiparty system and a new constitution in the early 1990s. However, the low turnout and allegations of electoral fraud during the most recent local elections in 2002-03 have exposed the weaknesses of formal political structures in Gabon. Presidential elections scheduled for 2005 are unlikely to bring change since the opposition remains weak, divided, and financially dependent on the current regime. Despite political conditions, a small population, abundant natural resources, and considerable foreign support have helped make Gabon one of the more prosperous and stable African countries.


border countries: Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Republic of the Congo
related countries: France
 
where in Africa is Gabon

Official Name:
République Gabonaise
short form: Gabon
int'l long form: Gabonese Republic

ISO Country Code: ga

Time:
Local Time = UTC +1h
Actual Time: Sat-Feb-11  18:35

Country Calling Code: +241

Capital City: Libreville (pop. 450 000)

Other Cities: Port-Gentil (120 000), Lambaréné, Franceville, Mouila, Tchibanga, Makokou, Koulamoutou, Port-Gentil, Oyem.

Government:
Type: Republic; multiparty presidential regime.
Independence: 17 August 1960 (from France).

Geography:
Location: Western central Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator, between Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea
Area: 267 667 sq. km. (103 347 sq. mi.)
Terrain: Narrow coastal plain; hilly and heavily forested interior (about 80% forested); some savanna regions in east and south.

Climate: Hot and humid with two rainy (February - May main rainy season)
and two dry seasons (May - September main dry season).

People:
Nationality: Gabonese
Population: 1.2 million
Ethnic groups: Over 40 ethnic groups: Fang (34%), Bapounou (22%), M'Bete (14%), Bandjabi (11%), Bakota (6%), and Myene (5%).
Religions: Christianity, Muslim, animist.
Languages: French (official), Fang, Myene, Bateke, Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi.

Natural resources: Petroleum, natural gas, diamond, niobium, manganese, uranium, gold, timber, iron ore, hydropower.

Agriculture products: Cocoa, coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber; cattle; okoume (a tropical softwood); fish.

Industries: Petroleum extraction and refining; manganese, and gold mining; chemicals; ship repair; food and beverage; textile.

Exports partners: USA 52.9%, China 8.5%, France 7.3% (2004)

Imports partners: France 43.8%, USA 6.3%, UK 5.9%, Netherlands 4% (2004)

Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine Francs CFA (XAF)


Note: External links will open in a new browser window.

Official Sites of Gabon

Gabon
The official site of the Republic of Gabon.

Sénat de la République Gabonaise
Official website of the senate.

Assemblée Nationale du Gabon
Official website of the National Assembly (in French).


Diplomatic Missions
Ambassade de France au Gabon
The French Embassy at Gabon.


Weather
Météo Gabon - Direction de la Météorologie Nationale
Weather in Gabon (in French)


Maps
Map of Gabon
Political map of Gabon.
Administrative Map of Gabon
Map of Gabon showing the country's administrative regions.

Google Earth Google Earth Gabon
Zoomable satellite view of Gabon.
Google Earth Google Earth Libreville
Zoomable satellite view of Gabon's capital city.

Map of Africa
Political Map of Africa.

News

Africa No1
Radio Africaine, a pan-African broadcaster based in Gabon (in French).
Gabon Flash
Gabon related website with news from the country (in French)

International Press
IRIN News
Gabon related news by the UN news agency.
 

 

Arts & Culture

Native
Baka Pygmies
A people of hunters and gatherers, Baka Pygmies live in the rain forest of Cameroon, Gabon and Congo.

 

 

Business & Economy

Banque Centrale des Etats d'Afrique Centrale - BEAC
Central Bank of Cameroon, Chad, Central African Republic, Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.

Banque Gabonaise de Développement
Gabonese Bank of Development at Libreville.

IZF.net, le portail de la Zone Franc CFA
Information about business and investment in the Western African countries within the monetary system of the Franc Zone - CFA. (in French)
 
 

Destination Gabon - Travel and Tour Guides

Discover Gabon: Estuaire, Haut-Ogooué, Moyen-Ogooué, Ngounié, Nyanga, Ogooué-Ivindo, Ogooué-Lolo, Ogooué-Maritime, Woleu-Ntem.

Le Gabon.org
Gabon information and promotion site.
Gabontour (Flash version)
Official website of Gabon Tourism with all the travel and tourism information (in French and English)

Gabon National Parks
About the National Parks of Akanda, Monts Birougou, Ivindo, Loango, Mayumba, Monts de Cristal and more.

Société d'Exploitation du Parc de la Lékédi
Information on the Park of Lékédi near Bakoumba, a small provincial town of Haut-Ogooué province in the south-east of Gabon.

CoopGabon.net
Gabonese community website for the exchange of ideas for citizens, friends and travellers of Gabon.


Tour Operator
Operation Loango
Located in the Petit Loango National Park in Gabon.
 

Travel and Tour Consumer Information


Education

Omar Bongo University
An autonomous state institution and the national university, Libreville (no website).

INHEA: Gabon Higher Education Profile
Profile of higher education practice in Gabon by International Network for Higher Education in Africa.
 
 

Environment

ECOFAC, Conservation et utilisation rationnelle des Ecosystèmes Forestiers d'Afrique Centrale
Conservation and development of the Forest Ecosystems of Central Africa, the European Union's commitment to a sustainable exploitation of natural resources.

Gabon National Parks
Gabon National Parks - 10% of the Gabon's area is set aside for gorillas, elephants and chimps.
Help Protect Gabon's Langoué Bai
Page with information about Langoué Bai, one of the five most important forest clearings in Africa.
Wildlife Conservation Society
Information about field work of the society in Gabon.
 
 

History

Histoire du Gabon
Time line of Gabonese history (in French)
History of Gabon
Gabon's history; Wikipedia encyclopedia entry.
 
 

Additional Information on Gabon

afrika.no - the Index on Africa - Gabon
Africa South of the Sahara: Gabon
Stanford University.
BBC News Country Profile: Gabon
Mbendi Profile: Gabon
Including economic overviews and directories of companies.
Open Directory Project: Gabon
Wikipedia: Gabon
The World Factbook -- Gabon
 
 


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