Gabon

Gabonese Republic : République Gabonaise
←    1960 – Present
General Information
Time of Exist:	17 August 1960 - Present
Government:	Unitary Presidential Republic under a Military Junta
Languages:	Official: French
Affiliation:	African Union (suspended) The Commonwealth OIC La Francophonie United Nations UNESCO World Health Organization
Religions:	Christianity (82.1%) Islam (12.2%) Traditional Faiths (5.7%)
Relations and Opinions
Friends:	France Congo Kosovo (from 2011) United States The Commonwealth Morocco Indonesia
Enemies:	Equatorial Guinea
Likes:	Natural resources, peace, being rich, forests, having a better HDI than his neighbours
Dislikes:	Unrest about COVID-19, curroption
Historical Information
Preceded By:	French Gabon

_“ Dazzling and proud, the sublime day dawns, dispelling for ever injustice and shame. May it rise, rise again and calm our fears, may it promote virtue and banish warfare.
— Gabon’s Anthem

Gabon, officially the Gabonese Republic, is a resource-rich country located in Africa. As of June 2023, he has been under a military junta since 2023. Gabon is situated on the west coast of Central Africa, bordered by Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the north, and the Republic of the Congo to the east and south. His western coastline along the Atlantic Ocean provides the country with significant maritime resources.

History

Gabon gained independence from France on August 17, 1960. Léon M'ba became the first president. Gabon decided to maintain close ties with France because of political support, economic dependency and military assistance. This was a good decision, as in 1964, a military coup briefly overthrew M'ba but was quickly reversed with French intervention. Before the coup Gabon was seen as one of the most politically stable countries in Africa.

In 1967, M'ba died, and Albert-Bernard Bongo (later called Omar Bongo) succeeded him. Bongo established a one-party state under the Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG). In the 1980s Gabon experienced economic growth driven by oil production, and Bongo maintained a stable but authoritarian regime, centralizing power.

In 1990, economic downturn led to political unrest and calls for reform. Bongo introduced multiparty politics amid pressure but retained significant control. In 1993, Bongo won the first multiparty presidential election, which was marred by accusations of fraud. Gabon's economy continued to rely heavily on oil, and Bongo faced increasing opposition and calls for transparency.

On 8 June 2009, Omar Bongo died after over 41 years in power. Ali Bongo Ondimba, his son, won the subsequent election amid controversy and allegations of electoral fraud. Ali Bongo was re-elected in a disputed election, leading to violence and unrest. Calls continued for political reform and diversification of the economy.

In January 2019, a small group of soldiers attempted a coup while Ali Bongo was abroad recovering from a stroke in Morocco. The coup was quickly thwarted, and the government regained control. However in August 2023, military officers in Gabon staged a successful coup d'état following the announcement of Ali Bongo's controversial re-election for a third term. The election results were disputed, and allegations of fraud and irregularities were rampant. The coup leaders, citing concerns over the integrity of the electoral process and governance issues, detained Bongo and declared themselves in control. This marked the end of over 50 years of Bongo family rule in Gabon.

Economy

The economy of Gabon is heavily dependent on his abundant natural resources. The country is one of the largest 🛢️ oil producers in Africa, and oil revenue accounts for a major portion of its GDP. Gabon also has extensive forests, making timber another crucial export commodity. Efforts to diversify the economy have been ongoing, with a focus on mining and agriculture. Gabon has lots of uranium ore, but can’t refine it because he isn’t very developed. So he gets paid when other countries buy the uranium from his clay to refine it.

Despite his wealth in natural resources, Gabon faces several challenges. Economic inequality remains a significant issue, with much of the country’s wealth concentrated in the hands of a few. The recent political instability has also raised concerns.

Relations

Friends

• France - Adoptive parent. Helped expand moi clay and buys my oil.
• Republic of the Congo - Brother, I helped you in civil war. But I still havings better HDI then yuo honhonhonhonhon!

Enemies

• Equatorial Guinea - Moi oil and HDI are better, and gib islands!

How to draw

Flag of Gabon

1. Draw a ball.
2. Fill the ball with three horizontal stripes of color top-to-bottom in the following order: green, yellow, blue.
3. Add the eyes and you are done!

Color Name		HEX
	Shamrock Green	#009F60
	Jonquil	#FCD20F
	True Blue	#3776C5