GABON

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TEXT HIGHLIGHTS: Diaries updates, key events, brief analysis and relating news articles in timeline Overview France ruled what was to become Gabone from 1839. In 1849 slaves freed by the French founded the Gabonese capital French meaning for Free Town. In 1910 Gabone became one of the 4 territories of the Federation of French Equatorial Africa (AEF) along with Chad, Congo (Brazzaville), and the Central African Republic. achieved independence in 1960, with Leon Mba elected President in 1961. He was deposed in the only coup in Gabon's history in 1964, but was restored after French intervention. His Vice-President and hand-picked successor, Albert-Bernard Bongo, took over on his death in 1967 and declared Gabon a one-party state, which it remained until 1990. President Bernard Bongo converted to Islam in 1973, taking the name Al-Hadj . Gabon enjoyed political stability throughout the 1970s, due largely to the rapid oil-driven economic growth that has given Gabon one of the largest per capita incomes in sub-Saharan Africa. But by the 1980s the oil boom was over and opposition grew. A government-in-exile was formed in Paris, and in response to a number of strikes, continued deterioration of the economy, and continued pressure for greater democracy, President Omar Bongo has convened a National Conference in March, 1990 to establish the principles for change. The country’s long serving president, Omar Bongo Ondimba, died on 8 June 2009. Following Presidential elections, Omar Bongo’s son, Ali Ben Bongo, was inaugurated as the new President of Gabone on 16 October, 2009. Gabon achieved it’s independence on 17th August, 1960. Mr. Gabriel Leon Mba was elected to serve as founder-president of Gabon, inaugurated during a celebration on the 12th February, 1961. Headship since independence; and government. In the 17th February, 1964, the Gabonese president Gabriel Leon M'ba was toppled by a military coup and his arch-rival Jean-Hilaire Aubame and to the result of a revolutionary committee who briefly assumed the office of the president by way of a coup d'etat. However, the French paratroopers were flown overnight to crush the coup attempt, restored Mr. Leon Mba's government in next days, then he stayed in office until March, 1967, but he died of cancer in November of the same year under further treatment in Paris, France. Mr. Leon M'ba then succeeded by his recently appointed vice president, Mr. Albert Bernard Bongo Ondimba. Mr. Albert Bernard Bongo came up to the vacant post, and formed his sole political party. He is well known as Al-Hadji Umer Bongo Ondinba, after his conversion to Islam in 1973. Al-Hadji Omar Bongo Ondimba, was one of the longest serving heads of states in the sub-Sahara Africa, won, controlled several sham-elections as a sole candidate of the ruling party since the legalization of opposition parties led to new elections in early November of 1990. President Al-Hadji Omar Bongo Ondinba died of cancer on the 8th of June, 2009 under further treatment in Barcelona, Spain. Gabone has been run as a political dynasty starting with President Omar Bongo and was succeeded by his son, ex-Defence Minister, Mr. Ali Ben Bongo. Gabone considered one of the more prosperous and stable African countries. A small population, petroleum-Oil and mineral reserves have helped Gabone become one of Africa's wealthier countries. A Republic in west central Africa on the Atlantic ocean. The Pigmies were probably the original inhabitants of the area, they are sound and fine in the Gabonese rainforests when the Bantus also established Gabon's ethnic composition. The Fang tribes arrived in the late eighteenth century and were followed by the Portuguese and by the French in 1839, then took control of Gabone, it was administered 1843 to 1886 as part of French west Africa, then the colony of the French middle Congo was established to include both Gabone and Congo in 1888, in 1910 Gabone became a separate colony within French equatorial Africa, and an overseas territory of France in 1946, it became an Autonomous republic within the French Community in 1958, Mr. Gabriel Leon Mba appointed it's natve prime minister from 21st May, 1957 to 21st February, 1961, when independence proclaimed on the 17th of August, 1960, the founder, Mr. Gabriel Leon Mba was elected head of state of Gabone, but he inaugurated during a celebration on the 12th February, 1961. In 17th February, 1964, the Gabonese president Leon M'ba is toppled by a military coup and his arch-rival Jean-Hilaire Aubame and to the result of a revolutionary committee who briefly assumed the office of the president by way of a coup d'etat. However, the French paratroopers were flown overnight to crush the coup attempt, restores Mr. Leon Mba's government in the next days, stayed in office until March, 1967, but he died of cancer in November of the same year under further treatment in Paris, France, he then succeeded by his recently appointed vice president, Mr. Albert Bernard Bongo Ondimba, known as Al-Hadji, after his conversion to Islam in 1973, came up to the vacant post by his sole political party, Gabone is one of the more prosperous and stable African countries. Al-Hadji Omar Bongo Ondimba, was one of the longest serving heads of states in the sub-Sahara Africa, won, controlled several sham-elections as a sole candidate of the ruling party since the legalization of opposition parties led to new elections in early November of 1990, he dominated the country's political scene for over fourty years, he enjoyed good four terms of five years including the nominal multi-party elections of November, 2005, known to be the first, since Gabone gained it's independence from France in August, 1960. He died of cancer on the 8th of June, 2009 under further treatment in Barcelona, Spain. Country has been run as a political dynasty starting with President Omar Bongo and was succeeded by his son, the ex-Defence Minister, Mr. Ali Ben Bongo. A small population, petroleum-Oil and mineral reserves have helped Gabone become one of Africa's wealthier countries. Gabon has remained relatively stable in a violent neighbourhood. It’s abundant oil revenues have contributed to political stability. One-third of the population are employed by the Government, an unusually high figure. Shows the high dependence on the government and its oil revenues. Gabonese enjoy over four times the per-capita incomes of average Africans. This has allowed for a relatively high standard of living, however, the wealth is heavily skewed between an urban elite and a poor rural population. Over-reliance on oil revenues has left agriculture undeveloped. Majority of the population is concentrated in towns like Libreville and Port Gentil. Domestic violence and single-mother families are a serious problem, which is sometimes abetted by law, which recognises only women’s unfaithfulness in marriage as grounds for divorce With a bar on nearly every corner and a taste for homemade beer and wine, Gabonese are copious drinkers. Concerned about stability in Central Africa, Gabon has been directly involved with mediation efforts in Chad, the Central African Republic (CAR), Angola, Congo-Brazzaville, the DR Congo, and Burundi. In December 1999, through President Bernard Bongo’s mediation, a peace accord was signed in Congo-Brazzaville between the government and leaders of an armed rebellion. The president was related by marriage to Congo-Brazzaville president Dennis Sassou-Nguesso. Accession to president Ali Ben Bongo, by succession. Tentative election calendar - Presidential 24th August, 2009. Gabon – Timeline Diaries updates, and related key notes: 1470 - Portuguese arrive in what is now Gabon. 1839 - Local Mpongwe ruler signs away sovereignty to the French. 1910 - Gabon becomes part of French Equatorial Africa. 1958 - Gabon votes to become autonomous republic in the French Community. 1960 - Gabon becomes independent. 1961 – Gabriel Leon Mba elected president. 1964 - French forces restore Mba's presidency after crushing military coup. 1967 – Albert Bernard Bongo becomes president after Leon Mba dies. 1973 – Albert Bernard Bongo converts to Islam and assumes the first name of Omar Bongo. 1990 - Opposition parties legalised, accuse the government of fraud in parliamentary elections held in September and October. 1991 - Parliament adopts a new constitution that formalises the multi- party system. 1993 - Omar Bongo Ondinba narrowly wins presidential election, the first held under the new multi-party constitution; opposition accuses government of electoral fraud. 1996 - Governing Gabonese Democratic Party wins significant majority in parliamentary elections. 1998 - Bongo re-elected to a seven-year term. 2002 - January - Ruling Gabonese Democratic Party retains a convincing majority in parliamentary elections. 2003 - July - Constitution changed to allow President Bongo to run for president as many times as he wishes. 2004 - February - French oil firm Total signs deal to export Gabonese oil to China. 2004 - September - Agreement signed with Chinese company to exploit around one billion tonnes of iron ore. 2005 - November - Omar Bongo is re-elected as president. Opposition supporters clash with police in the capital. 2006 - February - Gabon and Equatorial Guinea agree to start talks over disputed islands in potentially oil-rich waters in the Gulf of Guinea. 2006 - December - President Bongo's party wins parliamentary elections comfortably amid opposition accusations of fraud. 2008 - January - Government temporarily bans 20 non-governmental organisations for alleged interference in politics. 2009 - February - French court freezes President Omar Bongo's bank accounts in the country after he was ordered to return a payment made to him to release a jailed French businessman, Rene Cardona. 2009 - June - President Omar Bongo Ondimba dies while undergoing treatment at a clinic in Spain. 2009 - September - Ali Ben Bongo, son of late president, named winner of August election. Critics say poll was fixed to ensure dynastic succession. Opposition supporters clash with security forces. 2010 - August - Gabon marks 50 years of it’s independence. Bongo says France no longer its exclusive parter, as Gabon signs deals with India and Singapore for major infrastructural projects. 2010 - December - Parliament passes constitutional changes allowing government to delay calling an electoral college. The opposition says the changes open the door to dictatorship. January, 2011 - A leader of the opposition National Union party, Andre Mba Obame, takes refuge at UN compound in Libreville. His party was dissolved after he declared himself to have been legitimately elected president in the 2009 elections. December, 2011 – The ruling PDG party takes 95% of seats in parliamentary election, sparking opposition accusations of fraud. January, 2012 - Gabon and Equatorial Guinea co-hosted the African Cup of Nations, the continent's biggest football tournament. February, 2013 - French police search a villa in Nice bought by the late President Omar Bongo Ondimba, father of the incumbent President Ali Ben Bongo as part of a long-running corruption investigation. September 27, 2013: GABON: Indians to snap up Franceville manganese mine’ MINING: Gabon's mines ministry, has struck a deal after working discreetly for several weeks to negotiate a new accord to develop the Franceville manganese deposit following the withdrawal of BHP Billito. November 13, 2013: Gabon - Ali Bongo’s penchant for absolute power’ Since his election as president in 2009, Ali Bongo has steered Gabon resolutely single-handedly. Helped by his director of cabinet Maixent Accrombessi, the late Omar Bongo's son and successor has placed the army and has the intelligence services in his pocket, while his sister Pascaline Bongo, the former secretary-general of the president's office, and most other close and extended family members have been sidelined. Bongo has similarly excommunicated the politicians who used to be in his father's inner circle, such as Paul Toungui. Bongo's quest for absolute power has been served by the massive parliamentary majority his party PDG achieved at the polls in 2011. Gabon's opposition all but disintegrated following the death of political rival Pierre Mamboundou, the leader of the Union du Peuple Gabonais’s party, in 2011, and Andre Mba Obame's withdrawal from political life due to ill health. November 27, 2013: GABON- PM Ndong Sima, between rock and a hard place’ WANL No 671: President Ali Ben Bongo, always busy with his international agenda, has stepped back from national politics and his long-suffering prime minister Raymond Ndong Sima has had to take up the slack. Ali Bongo's distancing himself has triggered a power-struggle between the head of the government and some of the most influential people surrounding the president, who are only waiting for the moment to engineer Sima's exit. January 30, 2014: GABON – President Ali Ben Bongo places favorites in top government posts’ WANL: Three close associates of president Ali Bongo are now running the key interior and defense ministries in the extended government. COUNTRY FACT FILELocation On the Atlantic coast of Central Africa. Official title of the state The Gabonese Republic Republique Gabonaise Flag description: Three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, blue and green represents the country's forests and natural resources, gold represents the equator (which transects Gabon) as well as the sun, blue represents the sea. Neighbours: Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon on N, Congo on E.S. Land boundaries: total 2551 km. Border countries: Cameroon 298 km, the Congo 1,903 km, Equatorial Guinea 350 km. Local divisions: 9 Provinces Government type: Republic – presidential Legislation chamber: Bicameral Legislature Form of State: Republic A unitary multi-party republic with two legislative houses. The Senate 102 seats, members are elected by members of municipal councils and provincial assemblies to serve for six-year terms. The National Assembly 120 seats, members are elected by direct popular vote to serve for five- year terms. Executive branch Separated by Chief of State and Head of Government. Head of State is the President. Head of Government is to be appointed by the President, Council of Ministers appointed by Prime Minister in consultations with the President, bicameral parliament. President elected by popular vote to serve for seven-year terms without presidential term limits. Former Rulers 1961-1967 Gabriel Leon M’ba 1967-2009 Omar Bongo Ondimba 2009 - present Ali Ben Bongo Judicial chamber The Supreme Court with three chambers namely, Judicial courts, Administrative courts, and Accounts courts. And the Constitutional Court with three chambers namely, courts of Appeal, court of state security, and County courts. Capital city Libreville Altitude 1575 mtrs/5166 ft Geographic coordinates - 0.23N , 9.27E. A french meaning for "Freetown" a city and a port on the Komo river, founded as a village in 1848. Names of main towns Port-Gentill, Franceville, Lambarene, Moanda-Mounana, Oyem, Mouila, Tenibanga. Date of independence 17th August ,1960 Religions (Major) Catholics, Protestants, Muslims and Tribal beliefs. Main spoken languages French (official), Fang, Myene, Nzebi, Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi widely spoken. Currency unit African Franc (CFA) = 100 Centimes Area in Km2 267,667,00 Country area comparison in Africa 30 out of 55 states. Demographic terms: Average annual population growth rate 2.025 % Birth rate: 35.39 births per 1,000 population Death rate: 12.9 deaths per 1,000 population Average life expectancy: 52.75 years; Male 51.96 years; Female 53.58 years Illiteracy rate (percentage): Male: 10, Female: 18 Average per capita income. USD 14, 500 Population density: 5.7/km2 Urban population (percentage): 85 Contributor groups: Farming, Fishing: 6, Industry: 58, Social service: 36 Main Export Items: Crude oil 70%, Timber, Manganese, Uranium Economy is based on: Agriculture and Petroleum. Oil-production represents approximately 80% of the county's export revenues. Gabon as one of the least densely inhabited countries in Africa, has abundent natural resources and a stable political environment combined with a strong economic base. The country, thus, has a very attractive profile for foreign private investment. There are still rich Oil fields on the shores of Gabon, these have attracted many Oil companies to Gabon. There is currently on-shore and off-shore Oil- exploration going on with the latest licensing round in offering deep-water concessions off-shore. Climate: Tropical; Always hot & humid. Extremes: Lowest point The Atlantic coast 0 mtr. Highest point: Mt. Iboundji 1,575 mtrs. Weather of the capital city (Libreville): average annual temperature 24.2oC. Altitude: 1575 mtrs/5166 ft Hottest Month: January 23 – 31oc. Coldest Month: July 20 – 28oc. Driest Month: July 3 mm average Rf. Wettest Month: November 373 mm average Rf. Measures: Metric system Time zone: 1 hour ahead of GMT/UTC Public holidays: January 1, March 5, 12 , May 1 (Labour Day), August 17, December 4, Roman Catholic holidays, All Muslim holidays. Ethnic groups: Bantu tribes, including four major tribal groupings (Fang, Bapounou, Nzebi, Obamba) 55%, others 17%, estimated 175,000 Europeans, including 10,700 French and 11,000 persons of dual nationality. Topographic & Environmental concern: Heavily forested the country consists of coastal lowland plateaus in N.E and S. mountains in S.E and centre the Ogoue river covers most of Gabon. Environment: Deforestation, poaching bush-animals for dietry. Economic Overview Industry: Petrol-extraction, refining, manganese & gold mining, chemicals, food & beverages, textiles, lumbering, cement, ship repair. Chief crops: Cocoa, coffee, rice, sugarcane, peanuts, palm products, okoume (soft wood), cassava, banana : cattle, fish. Natural resources: Manganese, uranium, crude-oil, diamonds, niobium, natural gas, gold, iron ore, hydro-power. Gabon is the World's largest producer of Okoume wood, used in the manufacture of plywood. Land in use (percentage): Arable land 1.21 Grassland 18 Foreat woods 76 Others 4 Marine: Coastline 885 km Commercial Sea ports: Libreville, Port-Gentil. Port-Gentil the Petroleum jetty is located in western Gabon, on an island in the Ogooue River estuary east of Cape-Lopez, the capital of the Ogooue Maritime prefecture. Gabon's Petroleum industry, the third largest in Africa, is the main reason why the Oil-jetty in port-Gentil exists. Development prospect: The Gabonese government is pressing private investors to back the country's economic diversification and initial support has come from Asia. The government targets developing new sectors – oil accounted for 48% of GDP in 2010 – and increasing the amount of processing done in-country. Singapore's Olam is beginning pilot projects on 200,000ha of palm oil plantations and building a fertiliser plant in Port Gentil. Indian companies have won contracts for road and housing projects, but they are waiting on financing. The country is expecting an economic boost from co-hosting the January 2012 African Cup of Nations football tournament, but preparations have been slow and many of Libreville's infrastructure projects are behind schedule. The government hired US engineering firm Bechtel and created the Agence Nationale des Grands Travaux in October, 2010 to remove some of the bottlenecks. It plans to spend $12.5bn over the next five years on road, housing and energy projects. Two special economic zones - one outside Libreville, one outside Port Gentil - are progressing. The Nkok zone is to be dedicated to the forestry industry. There have been reforms to the sector that should see more local processing of timber. The economy remains strongly reliant on oil exports and diversification into other natural resources has been delayed by contract renegotiations. The landmark $5bn Belinga iron ore, dam and railway project was originally due to be complete by 2012, but financing and equity negotiations have already delayed start-up by about three years. The government is waiting to finalise the details of the creation of the Gabon Oil Company and a new oil code before beginning ad hoc negotiations with oil companies for new licences in the country's pre-salt acreage. With the Organisation Nationale des Employés du Pétrole threatening more strikes and pushing the government to impose a 10% cap on expatriate workers in the industry, foreign oil companies are worried the country lacks the qualified workforce or training facilities to make such a brusque transition.