Little is known of the history of Gabon before European contact. Bantu migrants settled the area beginning in the 14th century. Portuguese explorers and traders arrived in the area in the late 15th century. The coast subsequently became a center of the transatlantic slave trade with European slave traders arriving to the region in the 16th century. In 1839 and 1841, France established a protectorate over the coast. In 1849, captives released from a captured slave ship founded Libreville. In 1862–1887, France expanded its control including the interior of the state, and took full sovereignty. In 1910 Gabon became part of French Equatorial Africa and in 1960, Gabon became independent.
At the time of Gabon's independence, two principal political parties existed: the Gabonese Democratic Bloc (BDG), led by Léon M'Ba, and the Gabonese Democratic and Social Union (UDSG), led by Jean-Hilaire Aubame. In the first post-independence election, held under a parliamentary system, neither party was able to win a majority; the leaders subsequently agreed against a two-party system and ran with a single list of candidates. In the February 1961 election, held under the new presidential system, M'Ba became president and Aubame became foreign minister. The single-party solution disintegrated in 1963, and there was a single-day bloodless coup in 1964. In March 1967, Leon M'Ba and Omar Bongo were elected president and vice president. M'Ba died later that year. Bongo declared Gabon a one-party state, dissolved the BDG and established the Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG). Sweeping political reforms in 1990 led to a new constitution, and the PDG garnered a large majority in the country's first multi-party elections in 30 years. Despite discontent from opposition parties, Bongo remained president until his death in 2009.
Little is known of the historyofGabon before European contact. Bantu migrants settled the area beginning in the 14th century. Portuguese explorers and...
Gabon (/ɡəˈbɒn/ gə-BON; French pronunciation: [ɡabɔ̃] ; Sangu: Ngabu), officially the Gabonese Republic (French: République gabonaise), is a country on...
The historyof the Jews in Gabon dates back to at least the 17th century, when Black Jewish communities existed along the Gabonese coastline. The contemporary...
is the capital and largest city ofGabon. Occupying 65 square kilometres (25 sq mi) in the northwestern province of Estuaire, Libreville is a port on...
The flag ofGabon (French: drapeau du Gabon) is a tricolour consisting of three horizontal green, yellow and blue bands. Adopted in 1960 to replace the...
Gabon is a country in west central Africa sharing borders with the Gulf of Guinea to the west, Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, and Cameroon to the...
the present-day area of the Republic of the Congo and parts ofGabon, and the Central African Republic. In 1910, it was made part of the larger French Equatorial...
is the predominant religion in Gabon, with significant minorities of the adherents of Islam and traditional faiths. Gabon is a secular country and the constitution...
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Gabon face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Except for a period between...
The Gabon national football team (French: Équipe de football du Gabon) represents Gabon in men's international football. The team's nickname is The Panthers...
The Battle ofGabon (French: Bataille du Gabon), also called the Gabon Campaign (Campagne du Gabon), occurred in November 1940 during World War II. The...
Bongo family is a Gabonese family of Teke ethnicity. Two of its members (Omar Bongo and Ali Bongo) were presidents ofGabon, ruling the country from 1967...
This is a timeline ofHistoryofGabon. Each article deals with events in Gabon in a given year. 1990s 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999...
The prime minister ofGabon (French: Premier ministre de la République gabonaise) is the head of government ofGabon. The position was first created in...
Modes of transport in Gabon include rail, road, water, and air. The one rail link, the Trans-Gabon Railway, connects the port of Owendo with the inland...
Events in the year 2024 in Gabon. President: Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema Prime Minister: Raymond Ndong Sima Source: 1 January 1 – New Year's Day 1 April...
Gabon's music includes several folk styles and pop. Gabonese pop artist Patience Dabany, who now lives in the US, produces albums recorded in Los Angeles...
The African nation ofGabon has had human inhabitants for perhaps 400,000 years. Bantu peoples settled here from the 11th century. The coastline first...
continuation of office) See below for continuation 1886 to 17 August 1960 For continuation after independence, see: Heads of State ofGabonGabon Heads of State...
The Armed Forces ofGabon (French: Forces armées gabonaises) or the Gabonese Defense and Security Forces (French: forces de défense et de sécurité gabonaises)...
command of Lieutenant Eduard Shulze. At Gabon, the botanist, Richard Büttner, was left to attend to the coffee plantation of Dr Soyaux Proceedings of the...
Gabon has followed a non-aligned policy, advocating dialogue in international affairs and recognizing both parts of divided countries. Since 1973, the...
found in Equatorial Guinea, northern Gabon, and southern Cameroon. Representing about 85% of the total population of Equatorial Guinea, concentrated in...
Kingdom of Orungu (c. 1700–1927) (Portuguese: Reino da Orungu, French: Royaume d'Orungu) was a small, pre-colonial state of what is now Gabon in Central...
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