Gabon

Gabon is a country on the west-central coast of Africa, bordered by Equatorial Guinea to the north-west, Cameroon to the north-east, the Republic of the Congo to the east and south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. The capital and largest city is Libreville. The official language is French, with numerous local languages such as Fang and Myene spoken nationwide. The population is about 2.3 million, and Gabon is highly urbanized, concentrated in Libreville and Port-Gentil. Most people identify as Christian, with Muslim and indigenous beliefs also represented.

Gabon covers about 267,668 square kilometers of tropical rainforest, savanna in the interior, and extensive river systems. The climate is equatorial, with heavy rainfall and relatively modest temperature variation. The country protects biodiversity through national parks including Lope and Ivindo, home to elephants, gorillas, chimpanzees, and dozens of forest species.

History: Gabon gained independence from France on 17 August 1960. It was ruled by presidents Léon M'Ba, Omar Bongo Ondimba (1967–2009), and Ali Bongo Ondimba (2009–2023). In August 2023, a military coup ousted the government and established a transitional leadership under Brice Oligui Nguema, with plans for elections later during the transition.

Politics and government: Gabon is a presidential republic with a president as head of state and government. The legislature comprises a National Assembly and a Senate. Since the 2023 coup, the country has been governed by a transition authority led by Brice Oligui Nguema, with a timetable for restoring civilian rule.

Economy: The Gabonese economy relies heavily on oil, which accounts for a large share of GDP and export earnings. Other important resources include manganese and timber. The currency is the Central African CFA franc (XAF). Despite relatively high per-capita income for the region, the economy faces diversification challenges, inequality, and dependence on volatile commodity prices.