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Gabon

Gabon is situated in the western region of Central Africa. The country shares its border with Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon to the North and Republic of the Congo to the east and southeast. The country borders the Gulf of Guinea. The capital Libreville is located at 0 23 N, 9 27 E.

HISTORY:- The Pygmy peoples were the earliest inhabitants of Gabon around 7000 B.C. The Bantu groups migrated from the southern and eastern Africa in a large number and replaced the Pygmies. First European contact was made when Portugal explored the land in the 15th century. Diego Cam was the first European to land in the country. The Dutch arrived in the country in 1593, followed by the French in 1630. In 1839, French occupied the left bank of Gabon. By 1885, entire Gabon is officially occupied by France. Gabon joined in the federation of French Equatorial Africa in 1910. In 1959, after the fall of the federation, its territories gained independence. Gabon achieved independence on 17th August 1960. Léon M’ba became the first President. Albert-Bernard Bongo became President in 1967. Later after converting to Islam, he took the name of Omar. First multiparty elections were held in 1993 and Bongo won with 51% majority. Since then he is winning each elections with prominent majority.

GEOGRAPHY:- Gabon is located at 1 00 S, 11 45 E in Western Africa. The total area of the country is 257,667 sq km, in which various water sources occupy 10,000 sq km. The coastline is 885 km long bordering the South Atlantic Ocean. The lowest point is Atlantic Ocean (0 m) and the highest point is Mont Iboundji (1,575 m). Gabon consists of the narrow coastal plains with hilly interior and savannas in the east and the south. The largest river of Gabon is the Ogooué. There are plenty of caves in the country.

CLIMATE:- The climate of Gabon is tropical, hot and humid.

GOVERNMENT:- Gabon is a republic. The constitution was adopted on 14th March 1991. The legal system is based on the French civil law and customary law. The government is divided into three major branches:

Executive branch consists of the President (chief of state), the Prime minister (head of government), and cabinet. The President is elected by a popular vote. President appoints the Prime minister. The cabinet ministers are appointed by the Prime minister after the consultation with the President.

Legislative branch consists of bicameral legislature which again comprises the Senate (91 seats) and the National Assembly (120seats).

Judicial branch consists of the Supreme Court, Constitutional Court, Courts of Appeal, Court of State Security and smaller County Courts.

The most prominent political party is Parti Democratique Gabonais (PDG). Voting rights are given universally at the age of 21.

President Omar Bongo

Prime Minister Jean Eyeghe Ndong

ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS:- Gabon is firstly divided into 9 provinces which are again sub-divided into 37 departments.

The provinces are: Estuaire, Haut-Ogooue, Moyen-Ogooue, Ngounie, Nyanga, Ogooue-Ivindo, Ogooue-Lolo, Ogooue-Maritime and Woleu-Ntem.

CULTURE:- Gabon has a rich tradition of folklore and mythology. Sacred music is very popular in Gabon. The obala, the ngombi, balafon and traditional drums are the Gabonese musical instruments used in folk music. Apart from the folk music, pop music is also very famous. Famous pop stars of Gabon are Patience Dabany and Annie Flore Batchiellilys. Rumba, makossa and soukous are as popular as the American popular music genres like rock and hip hop. Masks are another important trait of Gabonese culture.

ECONOMY:- Gabonese per capital income is four times higher than its neighbours but the high percentage of income inequality forces a major portion of the population to live in poverty. It has the highest HDI in Sub-Saharan Africa. Gabon is a prominent oil producer of the world, making 50% of Gabonese GDP.

GDP/PPP (2007 est.): $20.09 billion; per capita $13,800.

Real growth rate: 4.5%.

Inflation: 5%.

Unemployment: 21% (2006 est.).

Arable land: 1%.

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

Labor force: 582,000 (2007); agriculture 60%, industry 15%, services 25%.

Industries: Petroleum extraction and refining; manganese, gold; chemicals, ship repair, food and beverages, textiles, lumbering and plywood, cement.

Budget:

Revenues: $3.534 billion

Expenditures: $2.347 billion (2007 est.)

Public debt: 50% of GDP (2007 est.)

Debt - external: $4.895 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

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

Exports: $6.856 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.): crude oil 77%, timber, manganese, uranium (2001).

Imports: $1.951 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.): machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, construction materials.

Major trading partners: U.S., China, France, Trinidad and Tobago, Thailand, Netherlands, Cameroon (2006).

Monetary unit: CFA Franc

LANGUAGE:- The official language is French. Other spoken languages are Fang, Myene, Nzebi, Bapounou/Eschira and Bandjabi.

CITIES:- The capital Libreville is the largest city. Other major cities are Port-Gentil and Franceville.

POPULATION:- The estimated population of Gabon is 1,454,867 with a growth rate of 2.0%.

Density per sq mi: 15

Literacy rate: 63% (1995 est.)

RACE:- Majority of the population comprises the Bantu tribes including four major tribal groups: Fang, Punu, Nzeiby, Mbede.

Other Africans and Europeans 10.8% (0.8% French and 0.8% persons of dual nationality)

RELIGION:-

Christian 55%–75%

Animist 20-24 %

Islam less than 1%

HEALTH:-

Birth rate: 35.75 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate: 12.59 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate: total: 52.65 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 53.52 years

Total fertility rate: 4.68 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: 3,000 (2003 est.)

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2005): 274

UNICEF:- Child trafficking is a major issue in Gabon. UNICEF with the help of media detects the child traffickers. Awareness campaigns are organized to fight against child trafficking. The decision makers are being trained to improve gender awareness and to establish child rights and to eliminate discrimination against women and children. UNICEF’s undertakes door-to-door policy in immunization. 35 community agents are being trained so far to improve health facilities. The country ratifies with the Forum for African Women Education ( FAWE ) to enhance women education rate.

TRANSPORTATION:-

Railways: total: 814 km (2006).

Highways: total: 9,170 km; paved: 838 km; unpaved: 7,626 km (2004 est.).

Waterways: 1,600 km (2007).

Ports and harbors: Gamba, Libreville, Lucinda, Owendo, Port-Gentil.

Airports: 53 (2007).

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