Gabon - Learn, Explore and Travel

cc licensed flickr photo shared by Jefe Le Gran

Gabon (; ), officially the Gabonese Republic () is a state in west central Africa sharing borders with Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the north, and with the Republic of the Congo curving around the east and south. The Gulf of Guinea, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean is to the west. It covers a land area of nearly 270,000 km² and has an estimated population of 1,500,000. Its capital and largest city is Libreville.

Since its independence from France on August 17, 1960, Gabon has been ruled by three presidents. In the early 1990s, Gabon introduced a multi-party system and a new democratic constitution that allowed for a more transparent electoral process and reformed many governmental institutions. Gabon is also a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2010-2011 term. The small population density together with abundant natural resources and foreign private investment have helped make Gabon one of the most prosperous countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, with the fourth highest HDI and the third highest GDP per capita (PPP) (after Equatorial Guinea and Botswana) in the region.

Libreville: With mostly white buildings set against the backdrop of the rich green jungle nearby, Libreville is a distinctly African city with a little French colonial flair and modern shops and restaurants. Among the sights are the National Museum, with collections of African art and wood carvings, the market places, where smells and colors mix to intrigue visitors, and the carved pillars of the Saint Michel Cathedral, and the waterfront, beaches and nightlife.

Gabon has important populations of many mammals including about 35000 Gorillas, 60000 Forest Elephants and 64000 Common Chimpanzees. 4/5 of Africas gorillas live in Gabon. Other large mammals include the Hippopotamus, Forest Buffalo, Bongo and Red River Hog. A variety of monkeys occur, including large numbers of the Mandrill. Carnivorous mammals include the Leopard and various jackals, mongooses, genets and civets. The West African Manatee is found along coasts and large rivers while the Humpback Whale breeds offshore.

The wildlife of Gabon is composed of its flora and fauna. Gabon is a largely low-lying country with a warm, humid climate. Much of the country is still covered by tropical rainforest and there are also grasslands, savannas, large rivers and coastal lagoons.

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The '1964 Gabon coup détat' was staged between 17 and 18 February 1964 by Gabonese military officers who rose against Gabonese President Léon Mba. Before the coup, Gabon was seen as one of the most politically stable countries in Africa. The coup resulted from M'ba's dissolution of the Gabonese legislature on 21 January 1964, and during a takeover with few casualties 150 coup plotters arrested M'ba and a number of his government officials. Through Radio Libreville, they asked the people of Gabon to remain calm and assured them that the country's pro-France foreign policy would remain unchanged. A provisional government was formed, and the coup's leaders installed Deputy Jean-Hilaire Aubame, who was M'ba's primary political opponent and had been uninvolved in the coup, as president. Meanwhile, M'ba was sent to Lambaréné, from Libreville. There was no major uprising or reaction by the Gabonese people when they received word of the coup, which the military interpreted as a sign of approval.

After being informed of the coup by Gabonese Chief of Staff Albert-Bernard Bongo, French President Charles de Gaulle resolved to restore the M'ba government, honoring a 1960 treaty signed between the deposed government and France when Gabon became independent. With the help of French paratroopers, the provisional government was toppled during the night of 19 February and M'ba was reinstated as president. Afterward, M'ba imprisoned more than 150 of his opponents, pledging "no pardon or pity" but rather "total punishment". Aubame was sentenced to 10 years of hard labor and 10 years of exile, a sentence that was later commuted. During this time, the ageing president became increasingly reclusive, opting to stay in his presidential palace under the protection of French troops. Within three years, M'ba was diagnosed with cancer; he died on 28 November 1967.