Gabon is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon and the Congo. The 800km- (500 mile-) long sandy coastal strip is a series of palm-fringed bays, lagoons and estuaries. The lush tropical vegetation (which covers much of the interior) gives way in parts to the savannah. There are many rivers along which settlements have grown. Many of the Bantu people are concentrated in coastal areas and villages along the banks of the many rivers. The main cities are Libreville, Port Gentil, Lambaréné, Moanda, Oyem, Mouila and Franceville. Libreville is a lively and charming capital beside the ocean. Its white buildings contrast with the green of the nearby forest. Sights include the art-craft village (Village des Artisans) and the National Museum, which contains some beautiful woodcarvings. Visitors can also enjoy the delightful Peyrie Gardens in the heart of the city. Gabonese food is distinctive and delicious, but not always readily available, as most restaurants tend to serve dishes from Senegal, Cameroon and the Congo. Most nightclubs with music and bars tend to be found in Libreville.

West Coast of Central Africa.

GMT + 1.

267,667 sq km (103,347 sq miles).

1.4 million (2005, UN).

5.23 per sq km.

Libreville. Population: 673,995 (2005).

Gabon is bordered to the west by the Atlantic Ocean, to the north by Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon, and to the east and south by the Congo. The 800km- (500 mile-) long sandy coastal strip is a series of palm-fringed bays, lagoons and estuaries. The lush tropical vegetation (which covers about 82 per cent of the interior) gives way in parts to the savannah. There are many rivers and they remain the main communication routes along which settlements have grown. Of the 40 or so Bantu tribes, the largest are the Fang, Eshira, Mbele and Okande. Only a small percentage of native Gabonese live in the towns, as the population is concentrated in the coastal areas and the villages along the banks of the many rivers, following a more traditional rural style of life.

Republic. Gained independence from France in 1960. Head of State: President Omar Albert Bernard Bongo since 1967. Head of Government: Prime Minister Jean François Ntoutoume-Emane since 1999. Recent history: From 1990, in common with much of the rest of Africa, President Omar Bongo and his Government effected the transformation from a one-party state to a pluralistic political system. The 120-seat elected National Assembly has acquired genuine political power although it remains dominated by the Parti Démocratique Gabonais (PDG), which at the last poll in December 2001 captured almost three-quarters of the seats. The remainder were largely shared between the two principal opposition parties, the Parti Gabonais de Progrès and the Rassemblement National des Bûcherons (National Woodcutters’ Party). A prominent PDG figure and close ally of Bongo, Jean-Francois Ntoutoume-Emane, retained the premiership to which he had first been appointed in 1999. Despite its overwhelming majority, widespread discontent with the social and political situation prompted Bongo to invite the Woodcutters into Government. Following heavy lobbying by its leader, Father Paul Mba Abessolle (who is also mayor of the capital, Libreville), the party agreed to join a ‘Government of collective management’ – the first time that any party other than the PDG has been represented in Government.
A new constitution, adopted in March 1991 and amended in 1997, allows for an executive President and bicameral legislature. The President, elected for a seven-year term, appoints a Council of Ministers headed by a Prime Minister. The legislature comprises the 120-seat Assemblée Nationale and the 91-member Sénate, both of which are directly elected for five-year and six-year terms respectively. In 2003, the constitution was amended once again, allowing the president to serve any number of terms (it had previously been limited to two). This enabled Bongo to run again in the November 2005 presidential election, in which he won 79 per cent of the vote, giving him a further seven years in power.

The official language is French. The principal African language is Fang. Eshira is spoken by a tenth of the population. Bantu dialects spoken include Bapounou, Miene and Bateke.

About 60 per cent Christian (mainly Roman Catholic), the remainder follow Muslim and animist beliefs.

220 volts AC, 50Hz.

Dance, song, poetry and myths remain an important part of traditional Gabonese life. Photography: It is absolutely forbidden to photograph military installations. In general, permission to photograph anything should be requested first, to prevent misunderstandings.