Country profile: Gabon

Gabon is one of West Africa's more stable countries. Since independence from France in 1960 Gabon has had just two presidents. Its late leader, President Omar Bongo, was in power for over four decades.

Despite being made up of more than 40 ethnic groups, Gabon has escaped the strife afflicting other West African states.

Overview

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This is partly down to its relative prosperity due to oil and to the presence of French troops, which in 1964 reinstated President Leon Mba after he had been overthrown in a coup.

AT-A-GLANCE Politics: President Omar Bongo died in June 2009 after 42 years in power Economy: Gabon is trying to diversify away from oil, whose earnings have been decreasing. Most of the population remains poor International: Tension persists over three small islands in oil-rich off-shore waters claimed by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. France has a military base in Gabon Timeline

Gabon's dependence on oil has made its economy - and political stability - hostage to fluctuations in oil prices. When oil prices fell in the late 1980s, opposition to President Bongo increased, culminating in demonstrations in 1990.

These ushered in political liberalisation. A multi-party system was introduced in 1991.

Government critics have pointed to the wealth gap between the urban elite and the rural poor.

Thanks to it oil exports and a small population it enjoys more wealth per head of population than many of its neighbours. However, most of its people live in poverty.

As oil reserves diminish, eco-tourism could grow in economic importance. Gabon's rainforests teem with wildlife, including lowland gorillas and forest elephants. National parks make up around one tenth of the land area.

Facts

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• Full name: The Gabonese Republic
• Population: 1.4 million (UN, 2008)
• Capital: Libreville
• Area: 267,667 sq km (103,347 sq miles)
• Major languages: French, Bantu-group languages
• Major religion: Christianity
• Life expectancy: 56 years (men), 57 years (women) (UN)
• Monetary unit: 1 CFA (Communaute Financiere Africaine) franc = 100 centimes
• Main exports: Crude oil, timber, manganese, uranium
• GNI per capita: US $6,670 (World Bank, 2007)
• Internet domain: .ga
• International dialling code: +241

Leaders

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Interim President: Rose Francine Rogombe

Senate speaker Rose Francine Rogombe was sworn in as interim president on 10 June 2009, following the death of President Omar Bongo.

Under the country's constitution, she must organise elections within 45 days.

President (deceased): Omar Albert-Bernard Bongo

President Omar Bongo died in June 2009 at a clinic in Spain where he had been undergoing treatment for a serious illness.

President Bongo was Africa's longest-serving leader

At the time of his death, Mr Bongo was Africa's longest-serving head of state, having led Gabon since he succeeded the post-independence leader Leon Mba in 1967.

In 1968 Mr Bongo declared Gabon a one-party state, a status which it kept until 1991. Opposition parties have consistently failed to pose a serious challenge to the president's Democratic Gabonese Party.

Under changes to the constitution made in 2003 the president may run for office as many times as he wishes.

He was re-elected for a further seven years in November 2005, winning nearly 80% of the votes. The opposition alleged fraud, but international observers said the poll was largely free and fair.

Mr Bongo portrayed himself as the custodian of Gabon's political stability and was credited with encouraging foreign investment. His critics accused him of having authoritarian tendencies.

Born in Franceville in 1935 as Albert-Bernard, Mr Bongo served in the French air force from 1958 until independence, when he returned to join the foreign ministry. In 1973 he converted to Islam, assuming the name of Omar.

The Gabonese president appoints the country's prime minister, who is answerable to the president. The president has the authority to dissolve parliament.

Media

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Gabon's main broadcast media are government-controlled.

Rights organisation Reporters Without Borders noted in 2006 that "the powerful state press spend a lot of energy in discrediting not only opposition parties but also the independent press."

There is one government daily and a number of private weeklies, many controlled by opposition parties. There are a few private broadcasters.

Gabon's national state broadcaster operates two TV stations, a French-language radio network and a network of provincial stations.

Radio France Internationale is available via an FM relay.

The press

• L'Union - government daily
• Le Temps - private weekly
• Le Temoin - private weekly
• La Lowe - private weekly
• Le Journal - private, bi-monthly
• La Relance - private weekly

Television

• Radiodiffusion-Television Gabonaise - state-run, operates two channels
• TeleAfrica - private
• TV Sat - pay-TV operator

Radio

• Radiodiffusion-Television Gabonaise - state-run, operates two networks
• Africa No1 - pan-African broadcaster based in Gabon, heard across Africa on shortwave and on FM relays in many cities; French concerns have a financial stake

News agency/internet

• Gabonews - private
• Internet Gabon - private