GABON
Compiled from the February 2005 Background Note and supplemented with additional information from the State Department and the editors of this volume. See the introduction to this set for explanatory notes.
Official Name:
Gabonese Republic
PROFILE
Geography
Area: 267,667 sq. km. (103,347 sq. mi.); about the size of Colorado.
Cities: Capital—Libreville (pop. 673,995). Other cities—Port-Gentil (118,940), Franceville.
Terrain: Narrow coastal plain; hilly, heavily forested interior (about 80% forested); some savanna regions in east and south.
Climate: Hot and humid all year with two rainy and two dry seasons.
People
Nationality: Noun and adjective—Gabonese (sing. and pl.).
Population: (2004 est.) 1.35 million (figs. disputed).
Annual growth rate: (2004 est.) 2.5%.
Ethnic groups: Fang (largest), Myene, Bapounou, Eshira, Bandjabi, Bakota, Nzebi, Bateke/Obamba.
Religions: Christian (55%-75%), Muslim, animist.
Languages: French (official), Fang, Myene, Bateke, Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi.
Education: Years compulsory—to age 16. Attendance—60%. Literacy—63%.
Health: Infant mortality rate—54/1,000. Life expectancy—56 yrs.
Work force: (500,000 est.) Agriculture—52%; industry and commerce—16%; services and government—33%.
Government
Type: Republic.
Independence: August 17, 1960.
Constitution: February 21, 1961 (revised April 15, 1975; rewritten March 26, 1991; revised July 29, 2003).
Branches: Executive—president (head of state); prime minister (head of government) and appointed Council of Ministers (current government of 40 appointed January 2002). Legislative—bicameral legislature (National Assembly and Senate). Judicial—Supreme Court.
Administrative subdivisions: 9 provinces, 36 prefectures, and 8 subprefectures.
Political parties: (including number of seats in 120-member Assembly elected in 2001-02) Parti Democratique Gabonais (PDG—88), Rassemblement National Des Bucherons-Rassemblement pour le Gabon (RNBRPG—8), Parti Gabonais Du Progres (PGP—3), Independents and other parties—24.
Suffrage: Universal, direct.
Central government budget: (2001 est.) Receipts—__BODY__.6 billion; expenses—__BODY__.2 billion; defense (1999)—3.0% of government budget.
Economy
GDP: (2003) $4.8 billion.
Annual real growth rate: (2004 est.) 1.1%.
Per capita income: (2004 est.) $4,579.
Avg. inflation rate: (2004 est) 2.1%.
Natural resources: Petroleum (43% of GDP), timber, manganese, uranium.
Agriculture and forestry: (7% of GDP) Products—cocoa, coffee, rubber, sugar, and pineapples. Cultivated land—1%.
Industry: (9% of GDP) Types—petroleum related, wood processing, food and beverage processing.
Trade: (2003) Exports—$2.6 billion: petroleum, wood, manganese. Major markets—U.S., EU, Asia. Imports__BODY__.7 billion: construction equipment, machinery, food, automobiles, manufactured goods. Major suppliers—U.S., France, China.
PEOPLE
Almost all Gabonese are of Bantu origin. Gabon has at least 40 ethnic groups, with separate languages and cultures. The largest is the Fang (about 30%). Other ethnic groups include the Myene, Bandjabi, Eshira, Bapounou, Bateke/Obamba, Nzebi, and Bakota. Ethnic group boundaries are less sharply drawn in Gabon than elsewhere in Africa. French, the official language, is a unifying force. More than 7,000 French people live in Gabon, and France dominates foreign cultural and commercial influences. Historical and environmental factors caused Gabon's population to decline between 1900 and 1940. It is one of the least densely inhabited countries in Africa, and a labor shortage is a major obstacle to development and a draw for foreign workers. The population is generally accepted to be just over 1 million but remains in dispute.
HISTORY
During the last seven centuries, Bantu ethnic groups arrived in the area from several directions to escape enemies or find new land. Little is known of tribal life before European contact, but tribal art suggests rich cultural heritages. Gabon's first European visitors were Portuguese traders who arrived in the 15th century and named the country after the Portuguese word "gabao," a coat with sleeve and hood resembling the shape of the Komo River estuary. The coast became a center of the slave trade. Dutch, British, and French traders came in the 16th century. France assumed the status of protector by signing treaties with Gabonese coastal chiefs in 1839 and 1841. American missionaries from New England established a mission at Baraka (now Libreville) in 1842. In 1849, the French captured a slave ship and released the passengers at the mouth of the Komo River. The slaves named their settlement Libreville—"free town."
An American, Paul du Chaillu, was among the first foreigners to explore the interior of the country in the 1850s. French explorers penetrated Gabon's dense jungles between 1862 and 1887. The most famous, Savorgnan de Brazza, used Gabonese bearers and guides in his search for the headwaters of the Congo River. France occupied Gabon in 1885 but did not administer it until 1903. In 1910, Gabon became one of the four territories of French Equatorial Africa, a federation that survived until 1959. The territories became independent in 1960 as the Central African Republic, Chad, Congo (Brazzaville), and Gabon.
At the time of Gabon's independence in 1960, two principal political parties existed: the Bloc Democratique Gabonais (BDG), led by Leon M'Ba, and the Union Democratique et Sociale Gabonaise (UDSG), led by J.H. Aubame. In the first post-independence election, held under a parliamentary system, neither party was able to win a majority. The BDG obtained support from three of the four independent legislative deputies, and M'Ba was named Prime Minister. Soon after concluding that Gabon had an insufficient number of people for a two-party system, the two party leaders agreed on 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.
This one-party system appeared to work until February 1963, when the larger BDG element forced the UDSG members to choose between a merger of the parties or resignation. The UDSG cabinet ministers resigned, and M'Ba called an election for February 1964 and a reduced number of National Assembly deputies (from 67 to 47). The UDSG failed to muster a list of candidates able to meet the requirements of the electoral decrees. When the BDG appeared likely to win the election by default, the Gabonese military toppled M'Ba in a bloodless coup on February 18, 1964. French troops re-established his government the next day. Elections were held in April 1964 with many opposition participants. BDG-supported candidates won 31 seats and the opposition 16. Late in 1966, the constitution was revised to provide for automatic succession of the vice president should the president die in office. In March 1967, Leon M'Ba and Omar Bongo (then Albert Bongo) were elected President and Vice President. M'Ba died later that year, and Omar Bongo became President.
In March 1968, Bongo declared Gabon a one-party state by dissolving the BDG and establishing a new party—the Parti Democratique Gabonais (PDG). He invited all Gabonese, regardless of previous political affiliation, to participate. Bongo was elected President in February 1975; in April 1975, the office of vice president was abolished and replaced by the office of prime minister, who had no right to automatic succession. Bongo was re-elected President in December 1979 and November 1986 to 7-year terms. Using the PDG as a tool to submerge the regional and tribal rivalries that divided Gabonese politics in the past, Bongo sought to forge a single national movement in support of the government's development policies.
Economic discontent and a desire for political liberalization provoked violent demonstrations and strikes by students and workers in early 1990. In response to grievances by workers, Bongo negotiated with them on a sector-by-sector basis, making significant wage concessions. In addition, he promised to open up the PDG and to organize a national political conference in March-April 1990 to discuss Gabon's future political system. The PDG and 74 political organizations attended the conference. Participants essentially divided into two loose coalitions, the ruling PDG and its allies, and the United Front of Opposition Associations and Parties, consisting of the breakaway Morena Fundamental and the Gabonese Progress Party.
The April 1990 conference approved sweeping political reforms, including creation of a national Senate, decentralization of the budgetary process, freedom of assembly and press, and cancellation of the exit visa requirement. In an attempt to guide the political system's transformation to multiparty democracy, Bongo resigned as PDG chairman and created a transitional government headed by a new Prime Minister, Casimir Oye-Mba. The Gabonese Social Democratic Grouping (RSDG), as the resulting government was called, was smaller than the previous government and included representatives from several opposition parties in its cabinet. The RSDG drafted a provisional constitution in May 1990 that provided a basic bill of rights and an independent judiciary but retained strong executive powers for the president. After further review by a constitutional committee and the National Assembly, this document came into force in March 1991. Under the 1991 constitution, in the event of the president's death, the prime minister, the National Assembly president, and the defense minister were to share power until a new election could be held.
Opposition to the PDG continued, however, and in September 1990, two coup d'etat attempts were uncovered and aborted. Despite anti-government demonstrations after the untimely death of an opposition leader, the first multiparty National Assembly elections in almost 30 years took place in September-October 1990, with the PDG garnering a large majority.
Following President Bongo's re-election in December 1993 with 51% of the vote, opposition candidates refused to validate the election results. Serious civil disturbances led to an agreement between the government and opposition factions to work toward a political settlement. These talks led to the Paris Accords in November 1994, under which several opposition figures were included in a government of national unity. This arrangement soon broke down, however, and the 1996 and 1997 legislative and municipal elections provided the background for renewed partisan politics. The PDG won a landslide victory in the legislative election, but several major cities, including Libreville, elected opposition mayors during the 1997 local election.
President Bongo coasted to an easy re-election in December 1998 with 66% of the vote against a divided opposition. While Bongo's major opponents rejected the outcome as fraudulent, international observers characterized the result as representative even if the election suffered from serious administrative problems. There was no serious civil disorder or protests following the election, in contrast to the 1993 election. Legislative elections held in 2001-02, which were boycotted by a number of smaller opposition parties and were widely criticized for their administrative weaknesses, produced a National Assembly almost completely dominated by the PDG and allied independents.
A constitutional revision of 2003 clears the way for Bongo to run for presidential office as often as he would like. Bongo is expected to be a candidate again in 2005.
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS
Under the 1961 constitution (revised in 1975, rewritten in 1991, and revised in 2003), Gabon is a republic with a presidential form of government. The National Assembly has 120 deputies elected for a 5-year term. The president is elected by universal suffrage for a 7-year term. The president can appoint and dismiss the prime minister, the cabinet, and judges of the independent Supreme Court. The president also has other strong powers, such as authority to dissolve the National Assembly, declare a state of siege, delay legislation, and conduct referenda. A 2003 constitutional amendment removed presidential term limits and facilitated a presidency for life.
In 1990 the government made major changes to Gabon's political system. A transitional constitution was drafted in May 1990 as an outgrowth of the national political conference in March-April and later revised by a constitutional committee. Among its provisions were a Western-style bill of rights; creation of a National Council of Democracy to oversee the guarantee of those rights; a governmental advisory board on economic and social issues; and an independent judiciary. After approval by the National Assembly, the PDG Central Committee, and the President, the Assembly unanimously adopted the constitution in March 1991. Multi-party legislative elections were held in 1990-91, despite the fact that opposition parties had not been declared formally legal.
The elections produced the first representative, multiparty National Assembly. In January 1991, the Assembly passed by unanimous vote a law governing the legalization of opposition parties. After President Bongo was re-elected in a disputed election in 1993 with 51% of votes cast, social and political disturbances led to the 1994 Paris Conference and Accords, which provided a framework for the next elections. Local and legislative elections were delayed until 1996-97. In 1997, constitutional amendments were adopted to create an appointed Senate and the position of vice president, and to extend the president's term to 7 years.
Facing a divided opposition, President Bongo was re-elected in December 1998. Although the main opposition parties claimed the elections had been manipulated, there was none of the civil disturbance that followed the 1993 election. Peaceful though flawed legislative elections in 2001-02 produced a new National Assembly dominated by the President's party and its allies.
For administrative purposes, Gabon is divided into 9 provinces, which are further divided into 36 prefectures and 8 separate subprefectures. The president appoints the provincial governors, the prefects, and the subprefects.
Principal Government Officials
Last Updated: 12/14/04
President: Bongo Odimba, El Hadj Omar
Vice President: Di Ndinge, Didjob Divungi
Prime Minister: Ntoutoume-Emane, Jean-Francois
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Town and Country Planning: Metogho, Emmanuel Ondo
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the City: Miyakou, Antoine de Padoue Mboumbou
Min. of State for Agriculture, Livestock, & Rural Development: Moussavou, Pierre claver Maganga
Min. of State for Commerce and Industial Development: Pendy-Bouyiki, Jean-Remy
Min. of State for Economy, Finance, Budget, & Privatization: Toungui, Paul
Min. of State for Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, & Francophonie Affairs: Ping, Jean
Min. of State for Housing, Town Planning and Land Register: Adiahenot, Jacques
Min. of State for Human Rights: Abessole, Paul Mba
Min. of State for Planning and Development Programs: Oye Mba, Casimir
Min. of State for Transportation and Civil Aviation: Missambo, Paulette
Min. of Civil Service, Administrative Reform, and State Modernization: Missongo, Desire Pascal
Min. of Communication, Postal Services, and Information Technologies: Berre, Andre Dieudonne
Min. of Culture and Arts: Amoughe Mba, Pierre
Min. of Defense: Bongo, Ali-Ben
Min. of Family, Child Welfare, and Women's Affairs: Ngoma, Angelique
Min. of Forest Economy, Water, Fishing, in charge of the Environment: Doumba, Emile
Min. of Higher Education & Scientific Research: Boukossou, Vincent Moulengui
Min. of Interior, Public Security, and Decentralization: Ngari, Idriss
Min. of Justice: Naki, Honorine Dossou
Min. of Labor & Employment: Ivala, Clotaire Christian
Min. of Merchant Navy: Siby, Felix
Min. of Mines, Energy, Oil, and Hydraulic Resources: Onouviet, Richard
Min. of National Education: Ono, Daniel Ona
Min. in Charge of Relations with Parliament and Government Spokesperson: Obiang, Rene Ndemezo
Min. of Public Health: Boukoubi, Faustin
Min. of Public Works, Equipment, and Construction: Boundono, Egide
Min. of Small Enterprises: Biyoghe-Mba, Paul
Min. of Social Affairs & National Solidarity: Obame, Andre Mba
Min. of Tourism and Handicrafts: Massima, Jean
Min. of Vocational Training and Social Rehabilitation: Ndaki, Barnabe
Min. of Youth and Sports: Mabika, Alfred
Dep. Min. of Public Works, Construction, and Equipment: Maboumba, Frederoc Massavala
Dep. Min. of Economy, Finance, Budget, and Privatization: Madoungou, Senturel Ngoma and: Ndong, Jean Eyeghe
Min. Del. of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, & Francophonie Affairs: Ndongou, Jean-Francois
Dep. Min. of Planning and Development Programs: Assele-Ebinda, Yolanda
Dep. Min. to the Prime Minister for State Controls, Inspections, and Fight Against Poverty and Corruption: Mabala, Martin
Dir., Central Bank: Leyimangoye, Jean-Paul
Ambassador to the US: Boundoukou-Latha, Paul
Permanent Representative to the UN, New York: Dangue-Rewaka, Denis
Gabon maintains an embassy in the United States at 2034 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 (tel. 202-797-1000).
ECONOMY
Gabon's economy is dominated by oil. Oil revenues comprise 65% of the Government of Gabon budget, 43% of gross domestic product (GDP), and 81% of exports. Oil production is now declining rapidly from its high point of 370,000 barrels per day in 1997. In spite of the decreasing oil revenues, little planning has been done for an after-oil scenario. Gabon public expenditures from the years of significant oil revenues were not spent efficiently. Overspending on the Transgabonais railroad, the oil price shock of 1986, the CFA franc devaluation of 1994, and low oil prices in the late 1990s caused serious debt problems. Gabon has earned a poor reputation with the Paris Club and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the management of its debt and revenues. Successive IMF missions have criticized the government for overspending on off-budget items (in good years and bad), over-borrowing from the Central Bank, and slipping on the schedule for privatization and administrative reform.
Gabon's oil revenues have given it a strong per capita GDP of more than $4,500, extremely high for the region. On the other hand, a skewed income distribution and poor social indicators are evident. Approximately 5% of the population receives over 90% of the income/wealth. The economy is highly dependent on extraction of abundant primary materials. After oil, logging and manganese mining are the other major sectors. Foreign and Gabonese observers have consistently lamented the lack of transformation of primary materials in the Gabonese economy. Various factors have so far stymied more diversification—small market of 1 million people, dependence on French imports, inability to capitalize on regional markets, lack of entrepreneurial zeal among the Gabonese, and the fairly regular stream of oil "rent". The small processing and service sectors are largely dominated by just a few prominent local investors. At World Bank and IMF insistence, the government embarked on a program of privatization of its state-owned companies and administrative reform, including reducing public sector employment and salary growth, but progress has been slow. A 15-month Stand-By Arrangement between the government and the IMF was negotiated in June 2004.
DEFENSE
Gabon has a small, professional military of about 8,000 personnel, divided into army, navy, air force, gendarmerie, and national police. Gabonese forces are oriented to the defense of the country and have not been trained for an offensive role. A well-trained, well-equipped 1,500-member guard provides security for the president.
FOREIGN RELATIONS
Gabon has followed a nonaligned policy, advocating dialogue in international affairs and recognizing both parts of divided countries. Since 1973, the number of countries establishing diplomatic relations with Gabon has doubled. In inter-African affairs, Gabon espouses development by evolution rather than revolution and favors regulated free enterprise as the system most likely to promote rapid economic growth. Concerned about stability in Central Africa and the potential for intervention, Gabon has been directly involved with mediation efforts in Chad, the Central African Republic, Angola, Congo/Brazzaville, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Burundi. In December 1999, through the mediation efforts of President Bongo, a peace accord was signed in Congo/Brazzaville between the government and most leaders of an armed rebellion. President Bongo has remained involved in the continuing Congolese peace process, and has also played a role in mediating the crisis in Cote d'Ivoire. Gabon has been a strong proponent of regional stability, and Gabonese armed forces played an important role in the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) mission to the Central African Republic.
Gabon is a member of the UN and some of its specialized and related agencies, as well as of the World Bank; the African Union (AU); the Central African Customs Union/Central African Economic and Monetary Community (UDEAC/CEMAC); EU association under Lome Convention; the Communauté Financiere Africaine (CFA); the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC); and the Nonaligned Movement. Gabon withdrew from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in 1995.
U.S.-GABONESE RELATIONS
Relations between the United States and Gabon are excellent. In 1987, President Bongo made an official visit to Washington, DC. In September 2002, Secretary of State Colin Powell made a brief but historic visit to Gabon to highlight environmental protection and conservation in the Central Africa region. This was followed by a visit to the White House by President Bongo in May 2004. The United States imports a considerable percentage of Gabonese crude oil and manganese and exports heavy construction equipment, aircraft, and machinery to Gabon. The major U.S. assistance program in Gabon is a Peace Corps contingent of about 65 volunteers who teach English, promote health programs, and provide environmental education. Through a modest International Military Education and Training program, the United States provides military training to members of the Gabonese armed forces each year. U.S. private capital has been attracted to Gabon since before its independence.
Principal U.S. Embassy Officials
LIBREVILLE (E) Address: Boulevard du Bord de Mer; Phone: [241] 76-20-03/04; Fax: [241] 74-55-07; Workweek: M-Th 8-17:15-Fr 8-14:00
| AMB: |
Walkley, Barrie R |
| AMB OMS: |
Keller, Patty |
| DCM: |
Laeuchli, Samuel |
| POL: |
Fedzer, Glenn |
| MGT: |
Martin, Barbara J. |
| CLO: |
Codispoti, Gabriella |
| DAO: |
Kringel, Neal |
| ECO: |
Sullivan, Lashandra |
| FIN: |
Martin, Barbara J. |
| GSO: |
Lipscomb, Alexander |
| ICASS Chair: |
Swedberg, Dale |
| IMO: |
Swedberg, Dale |
| ISSO: |
Codispoti, Aaron M. |
| RSO: |
Codispoti, Aaron M. |
| State ICASS: |
Swedberg, Dale |
| Last Updated: 1/10/2005 |
TRAVEL
Consular Information Sheet
December 15, 2004
Country Description: Gabon is a developing nation in west central Africa. French is the official language; few Gabonese speak English. Facilities for tourism outside the capital city, Libreville, are available, but they are often limited and can be expensive.
Entry/Exit Requirements: A passport and visa are required. Proof of yellow fever vaccination may be required for entry. Visas must be obtained in advance, as airport visas are no longer available. Travelers should obtain the latest information and details from the Embassy of Gabon, 2034 20th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20009, telephone: (202) 797-1000, fax: (202) 332-0668. Travelers may also contact the Gabonese Consulate at 18 East 41st St., Ninth Floor, New York, NY 10017, telephone (212) 683-7371. Information may also be obtained by contacting the Gabonese Mission to the U.N. at (212) 686-9720. Overseas, inquiries should be made to the nearest Gabonese embassy or consulate. See our Foreign Entry Requirements brochure for more information on Gabon and other countries. Call the Embassy of Gabon for the most current visa information.
Safety and Security: U.S. citizens should maintain security awareness at all times. In Gabon there have been isolated instances of civil unrest, both in the capital city and in the interior. Large gatherings or any other event where crowds have congregated to demonstrate or protest should be avoided.
For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department's Internet web site at http://travel.state.gov where the current Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, Travel Warnings and Public Announcements can be found.
Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S., or for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll-line at 1-317-472-2328. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
The Department of State urges American citizens to take responsibility for their own personal security while traveling overseas. For general information about appropriate measures travelers can take to protect themselves in an overseas environment, see the Department of State's pamphlet A Safe Trip Abroad.
Crime: In Gabon, petty thievery is common. Violent crime is more common in urban areas, and there have been cases of armed robberies in homes and in restaurants frequented by foreigners. Occasionally Americans or westerners have been victims of crime.
The U.S. Embassy encourages Americans to take extra precautions when traveling in Libreville. To prevent carjacking, citizens are encouraged to travel with their automobile windows up and doors locked. Marginal neighborhoods, poorly lit streets, and unfamiliar areas of the city should be avoided, especially at night. Walking or running on the beach alone at night should be avoided. When dining in restaurants or visiting markets, it is recommended that one carry only minimal amounts of cash and avoid wearing excessive amounts of jewelry.
The Embassy encourages citizens to choose restaurants with locked entrances and security guards to minimize the risk of armed attacks. Credit cards are not widely accepted except at hotels, and because of the high rates of credit card fraud, their use outside major chain hotels is not recommended. If involved in an attempted robbery or carjacking, Americans are encouraged to comply with the attacker to avoid injury and to report all incidents to the police and the U.S. Embassy. Police response time to reports of crime can be slow. Scams or confidence schemes do occur in Gabon. There have been instances of sexual assault against foreigners.
Information for Victims of Crime: The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. If you are the victim of a crime while over-seas, in addition to reporting to local police, please contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for assistance. The Embassy/Consulate staff can, for example, assist you to find appropriate medical care, to contact family members or friends and explain how funds could be transferred. Although the investigation and prosecution of the crime is solely the responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can help you to understand the local criminal justice process and to find an attorney if needed. See our information on Victims of Crime at http://travel.state.gov/travel/brochure_victim_assistance.html.
Medical Facilities and Health Information: Medical facilities in Gabon's major cities are limited, but they are generally adequate for routine or basic needs. Medical services in rural areas are generally unavailable. Additionally, some medicines are not available; travelers should carry necessary, properly labeled, medicines and medications with them.
Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's hot-line for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747); fax 1-888-CDC-FAXX (1-888-232-3299), or via the CDC's Internet site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad consult the World Health Organization's (WHO) web-site at http://www.who.int/en. Further health information for travelers is available at http://www.who.int/ith.
Medical Insurance: The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation.
Traffic Safety and Road Conditions: While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning Gabon is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.
Travel by road in Gabon can be hazardous. It is recommended that you drive with your car windows up and the doors locked. Travelers are routinely stopped at police checkpoints within cities and on roads to the interior. Travelers should use extreme caution when driving after dark. Two-lane roads are the norm throughout Gabon. Roads to outlying cities have visible and hidden dangers that are profuse, including large potholes, absence of road signs, poor to non-existent streetlights, and the presence of pedestrians and animals. Construction work is often poorly indicated. Four-wheel drive vehicles are recommended for travel beyond the paved road to Lambarene, especially during the rainy season. Roadside assistance and emergency medical services are available in Libreville, but they may not be dependable. Such services are nonexistent outside of the city. Service stations are available along main roads, but vehicle repair facilities are not always available. Drivers must have a valid international driver's license (available from AAA and the American Automobile Routing Alliance) when driving in Gabon.
Use of taxis is generally safe but does pose added risks. It is recommended that one use a hotel taxi when possible. Riding in a taxi alone or during late hours of the evening is not recommended and creates additional risk of becoming a victim of crime. Rail services are available, but travelers should be prepared for delays. Please refer to our Road Safety page for more information http://www.travel.state.gov/road_safety.html.
Aviation Safety Oversight: As there is no direct commercial air service between the United States and Gabon, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed Gabon's Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with ICAO international aviation safety standards. For more information, travelers may visit the FAA's internet web site at http://www.faa.gov/avr/iasa/index.cfm.
Special Circumstances: Gabon is a francophone country; travelers who do not speak French will face difficulties associated with the language barrier. Americans should always carry identification with them in the event they are stopped at a police checkpoint. Official corruption is common, and it is not recommended to offer bribes. Photographing military or government buildings is strictly forbidden.
Criminal Penalties: While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offences. Persons violating Gabon's laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Gabon are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. Engaging in illicit sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime, prosecutable in the United States.
Children's Issues: For information on international adoption of children and international parental child abduction, see the Office of Children's Issues website at http://travel.state.gov/family/index.html.
Registration/Embassy Location: Americans living or traveling in Gabon are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Depart-ment's travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov, and to obtain updated information on travel and security within Gabon. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency. The U.S. Embassy is located downtown on the Boulevard de la Mer. The mailing address is Centre Ville, B.P. 4000, Libreville, Gabon. The telephone numbers are (241) 76-20-03 or (241) 76-20-04. The fax numbers are (241) 74-55-07 or (241) 76-88-49 and the web site is http://usembassy.state.gov/libreville/.
