Introduction to Gabon
"Gabon is one of the few countries in Central Africa that enjoys peace and stability."
President Omar Bongo
President Omar Bongo
Geography Gabon is located beside the Atlantic coast in Central Africa. It is made up of nine provinces: Estuaire, Haut-Ogooue, Moyen-Ogooue, Ngounie, Nyanga, Ogooue-Ivindo, Ogooue-Lolo, Ogooue-Maritaime, and Woleu-Ntem. The capital of Gabon is a coastal city called Libreville, which has a population of 824,000. Seventy five percent of the country is forested land, which is threatened by logging. One of the most significant threats to biodiversity is the booming oil industry, which often leads to water pollution. However, Gabon's oil revenue does allow the financial resources for conservation efforts. |
Population Gabon has a population of approximately 2.1 million citizens. Eighty percent are of Gabonese nationality, with smaller populations from Cameroon, Mali, Benin, Togo, Senegal, Congo, and other African nations. Forty three percent of the population are Roman Catholic, with the rest being made up of mostly Protestants and other Christians. Sixty four percent of Gabonese citizens work in agriculture, with the rest employed in industry and services. Almost ninety percent of the population lives in urban areas. |
Economy & Politics The most significant source of revenue in Gabon is oil. Because of this revenue, Gabon has one of the highest per capita income levels in sub-Saharan Africa. However, there is also a significant wealth disparity, largely due to population demographics. Sixty percent of Gabon's population are below the age of 25 and unemployment is widespread. Previously occupied by France, Gabon is now a presidential republic. Its legal system is a combination of local and French customs. The president of Gabon is Ali Bongo Ondimba and the prime minister is Julien Nkoghe Bekale. There are 13 recognized political parties. |
International Relations
The British High Commission Yaounde, based in Cameroon, oversees relations between the United Kingdom and Cameroon, Gabon, Chad, and Equatorial Guinea. Most of their work in Gabon goes toward trade, the country's economic development, and climate change initiatives (gov.uk).
In 1963, the Peace Corps established a program in Gabon. The role of the first volunteers was to build schools for rural communities. Since its inception, over 1,400 Peace Corps volunteers have served in Gabon. In July of 2005, the organization announced that it planned to discontinue operations in Gabon the following month. High costs and difficulty with community integration are what ultimately led to this decision. Since the announcement, the Peace Corps has not returned to Gabon (Peace Corps, 2005).
In 1963, the Peace Corps established a program in Gabon. The role of the first volunteers was to build schools for rural communities. Since its inception, over 1,400 Peace Corps volunteers have served in Gabon. In July of 2005, the organization announced that it planned to discontinue operations in Gabon the following month. High costs and difficulty with community integration are what ultimately led to this decision. Since the announcement, the Peace Corps has not returned to Gabon (Peace Corps, 2005).
Paige McGill, Fall 2019