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Gabon
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Gabon, officially the Gabonese Republic, is a country in west central Africa. It borders on Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Republic of the Congo and the Gulf of Guinea. Since its independence from France on August 17, 1960, the Republic has been ruled by only two autocratic Presidents; the incumbent El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba has been in power since 1967 and is currently (2007) Africa's longest-serving Head of State. Gabon introduced a multiparty system and a new democratic constitution in the early 1990s that allowed for a more transparent electoral process and for reforms of governmental institutions. A small population, abundant natural resources, and foreign private investment have helped make Gabon one of the most prosperous countries in the region. Its coat of arms shows two jungle cats representing their prided animals.
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Gabon, officially the Gabonese Republic, is a country in west central Africa. It borders on Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Republic of the Congo and the Gulf of Guinea. Since its independence from France on August 17, 1960, the Republic has been ruled by only two autocratic Presidents; the incumbent El Hadj Omar Bongo has been in power since 1967 and is currently (2006) Africa's longest-serving Head of State. Gabon introduced a multiparty system and a new democratic constitution in the early 1990s that allowed for a more transparent electoral process and for reforms of governmental institutions. A small population, abundant natural resources, and foreign private investment have helped make Gabon one of the more prosperous countries in the region.
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Gabon has a diverse ethnic makeup, although most of the inhabitants are Bantu-speaking. Of the country's approximately 40 ethnic groups, most belong to the Fang, Mpongwe, M'Bete, and Punu groups. Europeans, mostly French, are a minority. Pygmies, believed to be the original inhabitants, are only a few thousand. About 90 percent of the population is Christian, primarily Roman Catholic, and about 5 percent is Muslim.
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Gabon has a hot and humid climate. The temperature varies only slightly throughout the year. The average daily temperature is 26.7° C (80° F). From June to September virtually no rain falls but humidity is high. In December and January the rainfall is slight, and during the remaining months it is heavy. At Libreville, the capital, the average annual rainfall is 2515 mm (99 in).
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In December 2005, the Government of Gabon published an EITI report, which covers information from 2004. However, this report does not provide information on the Government’s share of profit oil, which according to estimates might be as much as half of total oil revenue. The report notes difficulties on the part of the government in handling profit oil information, and lack of the necessary details for the auditor to do the reconciliation. In addition, the EITI process in Gabon needs to increase stakeholder involvement. Nevertheless, it is worth noting that the authorities have acknowledged the main shortcomings of the process, which is seen by them as the first step towards full implementation. The World Bank and the IMF are monitoring progress within the framework of the implementation of their general policies.
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Gabon is more prosperous than most nearby countries, with a per capita income of four times the average for Sub-Saharan Africa. This is in large part due to offshore oil production. Critics note that the income was not invested in modernizing or diversifying the economy and Gabon remains heavily reliant on its natural resources. Gabon was a full member of OPEC from 1975 to 1995. It is an exporter of magnesium, iron, wood. Uranium mines near Franceville were shut down in 2001 with the arrival of new competition on the global market and is work in progress to re-open them.
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Gabon