Country
Countries A-Z
Gabon
Gabonese Republic
République Gabonaise
Political Status: Independent since August 17, 1960; present constitution, providing for “semi-presidential” regime, adopted March 14, 1991.
Area: 103,346 sq. mi. (267,667 sq. km).
Population: 1,576,207 (2012E—UN); 1,640,286 (2013E—U.S. Census).
Major Urban Center (2005E): LIBREVILLE (metropolitan area, 659,000).
Official Language: French.
Monetary Unit: CFA Franc (official rate November 1, 2013: 486.52 francs = $1US). The CFA franc, previously pegged to the French franc, is now permanently pegged to the euro at 655.957 CFA francs = 1 euro.
President: Ali Ben BONGO Ondimba (Gabonese Democratic Party), elected in controversial balloting on August 30, 2009, resolved by Constitutional Court rulings on September 4 and October 12, succeeding Interim President Rose Francine ROGOMBÉ (Gabonese Democratic Party), who, on June 9, had constitutionally ...