More European merchants came to the region in the 16th century, trading for slaves, ivory and tropical woods. ==French colonial period== In 1838 and 1841, France established a protectorate over the coastal regions of Gabon by treaties with Gabonese coastal chiefs. American missionaries from New England established a mission at the mouth of the Komo River in 1842.
In 1839 and 1841, France established a protectorate over the coast.
In 1839 and 1841, France established a protectorate over the coast.
More European merchants came to the region in the 16th century, trading for slaves, ivory and tropical woods. ==French colonial period== In 1838 and 1841, France established a protectorate over the coastal regions of Gabon by treaties with Gabonese coastal chiefs. American missionaries from New England established a mission at the mouth of the Komo River in 1842.
More European merchants came to the region in the 16th century, trading for slaves, ivory and tropical woods. ==French colonial period== In 1838 and 1841, France established a protectorate over the coastal regions of Gabon by treaties with Gabonese coastal chiefs. American missionaries from New England established a mission at the mouth of the Komo River in 1842.
In 1849, captives released from a captured slave ship founded Libreville.
In 1849, the French authorities captured an illegal slave ship and freed the captives on board.
In 1862–1887, France expanded its control including the interior of the state, and took full sovereignty.
The captives were released near the mission station, where they founded a settlement which was called Libreville (French for "free town") French explorers penetrated Gabon's dense jungles between 1862 and 1887.
France occupied Gabon in 1885, but did not administer it until 1903.
The captives were released near the mission station, where they founded a settlement which was called Libreville (French for "free town") French explorers penetrated Gabon's dense jungles between 1862 and 1887.
France occupied Gabon in 1885, but did not administer it until 1903.
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.
Gabon's first political party, the Jeunesse Gabonais, was founded around 1922. In 1910 Gabon became one of the four territories of French Equatorial Africa.
Gabon's first political party, the Jeunesse Gabonais, was founded around 1922. In 1910 Gabon became one of the four territories of French Equatorial Africa.
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.
On 15 July 1960 France agreed to Gabon becoming fully independent.
On 17 August 1960 Gabon became an independent country. ==Independence== At the time of Gabon's independence in 1960, 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 February 1961 election, held under the new presidential system, M'Ba became president and Aubame became foreign minister.
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 single-party solution disintegrated in 1963, and there was a single-day bloodless coup in 1964.
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 single-party solution disintegrated in 1963, and there was a single-day bloodless coup in 1964.
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).
When the BDG appeared likely to win the election by default, the Gabonese military toppled M'Ba in a bloodless coup on 18 February 1964.
Elections were held in April 1964 with many opposition participants.
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 were elected president and vice president.
In March 1967, Leon M'Ba and Omar Bongo (then known as Albert Bongo) were elected President and Vice President, with the BDG winning all 47 seats in the National Assembly.
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 Gabonese Democratic Party (Parti Démocratique Gabonais) (PDG).
Bongo was elected President in February 1973; 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 elected President in February 1973; 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.
Bongo was re-elected president in December 1979 and November 1986 to 7-year terms.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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'état 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.
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'état 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.
These talks led to the Paris Accords in November 1994, under which several opposition figures were included in a government of national unity, and constitutional reforms were approved in a referendum in 1995.
These talks led to the Paris Accords in November 1994, under which several opposition figures were included in a government of national unity, and constitutional reforms were approved in a referendum in 1995.
This arrangement soon broke down, however, and the 1996 and 1997 legislative and municipal elections provided the background for renewed partisan politics.
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. ==Modern times== President Bongo coasted to easy re-elections in December 1998 and November 2005, with large majorities of the vote against a divided opposition.
The PDG won a landslide victory in the legislative election, but several major cities, including Libreville, elected opposition mayors during the 1997 local election. ==Modern times== President Bongo coasted to easy re-elections in December 1998 and November 2005, with large majorities of the vote against a divided opposition.
Legislative elections held in 2001–2002, 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. Omar Bongo died at a Spanish hospital on 8 June 2009. His son Ali Bongo Ondimba was elected president in the August 2009 presidential election.
The PDG won a landslide victory in the legislative election, but several major cities, including Libreville, elected opposition mayors during the 1997 local election. ==Modern times== President Bongo coasted to easy re-elections in December 1998 and November 2005, with large majorities of the vote against a divided opposition.
Despite discontent from opposition parties, Bongo remained president until his death in 2009. ==Early history== The societies of the indigenous Pygmies were largely displaced from about AD 1000 onwards by migrating Bantu peoples from the north, such as the Fang.
Legislative elections held in 2001–2002, 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. Omar Bongo died at a Spanish hospital on 8 June 2009. His son Ali Bongo Ondimba was elected president in the August 2009 presidential election.
He was re-elected in August 2016, in elections marred by numerous irregularities, arrests, human rights violations and post-election violence. On 24 October 2018, Ali Bongo Ondimbao was hospitalized in Riyadh for an undisclosed illness.
He was re-elected in August 2016, in elections marred by numerous irregularities, arrests, human rights violations and post-election violence. On 24 October 2018, Ali Bongo Ondimbao was hospitalized in Riyadh for an undisclosed illness.
On 29 November 2018 Bongo was transferred to a military hospital in Rabat to continue recovery.
On 9 December 2018 it was reported by Gabon's Vice President Moussavou that Bongo suffered a stroke in Riyadh and has since left the hospital in Rabat and is currently recovering at a private residence in Rabat.
Since 24 October 2018 Bongo has not been seen in public and due to lack of evidence that he is either alive or dead many have speculated if he is truly alive or not.
On 1 January 2019 Bongo gave his first public address via a video posted to social media since falling ill in October 2018 putting to rest any rumors he was dead.
On 1 January 2019 Bongo gave his first public address via a video posted to social media since falling ill in October 2018 putting to rest any rumors he was dead.
On 7 January 2019, soldiers in Gabon launched an unsuccessful coup d’etat attempt. On May 11, 2021, a Commonwealth delegation visited Gabon as Ali Bongo visited London to meet with the secretary general of the organization, which brings together 54 English-speaking countries.
On 7 January 2019, soldiers in Gabon launched an unsuccessful coup d’etat attempt. On May 11, 2021, a Commonwealth delegation visited Gabon as Ali Bongo visited London to meet with the secretary general of the organization, which brings together 54 English-speaking countries.
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