Government and Politics of Gabon

Government Type

republic; multiparty presidential regime (opposition parties legalized in 1990)

Administrative Divisions

9 provinces; Estuaire, Haut-Ogooue, Moyen-Ogooue, Ngounie, Nyanga, Ogooue-Ivindo, Ogooue-Lolo, Ogooue-Maritime, Woleu-Ntem

Legal System

based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal

Citizenship

Ccitizenship by birth: No Citizenship by descent only: At least one parent must be a citizen of Gabon Dual citizenship recognized: No Residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years

Executive Branch

chief of state: President Brice Clotaire OLIGUI NGUEMA (since 30 August 2023, following a military coup that ousted President Ali BONGO Ondimba) head of government: Prime Minister Raymond NDONG SIMA (since 7 September 2023) cabinet: Transitional Council of Ministers appointed by the president following the dissolution of previous governmental structures after the August 2023 coup elections: Prior to the coup, the president was elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; the most recent presidential election was held on 26 August 2023, the results of which were disputed and led directly to the military intervention; future electoral arrangements are to be determined during the ongoing transitional period election results: The August 2023 election was annulled following the coup; the military-led Transition Committee for the Restoration of Institutions (CTRI) subsequently appointed Oligui Nguema as transitional president, suspending the constitution and dissolving existing governmental institutions

Legislative Branch

Following a military coup in August 2023 that ousted President Ali Bongo Ondimba and dissolved the country's institutions, Gabon's legislative framework was suspended. The transitional military government, known as the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions (CTRI), dissolved both chambers of parliament and assumed executive and legislative authority. Prior to the coup, Gabon operated under a bicameral legislature consisting of the Senate (102 seats; members elected by members of municipal councils and departmental assemblies to serve six-year terms) and the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (143 seats; members elected by direct, popular vote to serve five-year terms). The dominant party across both chambers was the Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG), which had maintained political dominance since the era of Omar Bongo. The last National Assembly elections before the coup were held in August 2023, the results of which were annulled following the military takeover. The transitional authorities subsequently announced plans for a national dialogue and a return to civilian constitutional rule, including the drafting of a new constitution. A constitutional referendum was held in November 2024, approved by voters, which laid the groundwork for a transitional civilian government. Legislative elections are expected to follow as part of the broader transition roadmap, though firm dates have not yet been confirmed.

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme consisting of three chambers - Judicial, Administrative, and Accounts; Constitutional Court; Courts of Appeal; Court of State Security; County Courts

Political Parties

Circle of Liberal Reformers or CLR [General Jean Boniface ASSELE]; Congress for Democracy and Justice or CDJ [Jules Aristide Bourdes OGOULIGUENDE]; Democratic and Republican Alliance or ADERE [Divungui-di-Ndinge DIDJOB]; Gabonese Democratic Party or PDG, former sole party [Simplice Nguedet MANZELA]; Gabonese Party for Progress or PGP [Pierre-Louis AGONDJO-OKAWE]; National Rally of Woodcutters or RNB [leader NA]; National Rally of Woodcutters-Rally for Gabon or RNB-RPG (Bucherons) [Fr. Paul M'BA-ABESSOLE]; People's Unity Party or PUP [Louis Gaston MAYILA]; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Pierre EMBONI]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Pierre Claver MAGANGA-MOUSSAVOU]; Union for Democracy and Social Integration or UDIS [leader NA]; Union of Gabonese People or UPG [Pierre MAMBOUNDOU]

Head of State

President Brice Clotaire OLIGUI NGUEMA (since 30 August 2023, following a military coup that ousted President Ali BONGO Ondimba)

Head of Government

Prime Minister Raymond NDONG SIMA

Cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the president

Elections

president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (no term limits); election last held on 30 August 2009 (next to be held in 2016); prime minister appointed by the president

Election Results

In August 2023, Gabon's military seized power in a coup, overthrowing President Ali Bongo Ondimba shortly after election authorities announced he had won a third term in a disputed presidential election held on August 26, 2023. The official results had credited Bongo with approximately 64.3% of the vote, while leading opposition candidate Albert Ondo Ossa received around 30.8%. The results were widely questioned due to allegations of fraud and a near-total communications blackout during the vote count. Following the coup, a transitional military council led by General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema assumed control of the government, suspended the constitution, and dissolved state institutions. Oligui Nguema was subsequently sworn in as transitional president. The 2023 election effectively ended the Bongo family's more than five-decade grip on power in Gabon.

Constitution

adopted 14 March 1991

Independence

17 August 1960 (from France)

National Holiday

Founding of the Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG), 12 March (1968)

International Organization Participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

chief of mission: Ambassador Jules Marius OGOUEBANDJA chancery: Suite 200, 2034 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 797-1000 FAX: [1] (202) 332-0668 consulate(s): New York

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

chief of mission: Ambassador Barrie R. WALKLEY embassy: Boulevard du Bord de Mer, Libreville mailing address: Centre Ville, B. P. 4000, Libreville telephone: [241] 76 20 03 through 76 20 04, after hours - 74 34 92 FAX: [241] 74 55 07

Capital City

Libreville

Location

0 23 N, 9 27 E

Time Difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

History

Original site settled by freed slaves and the name means "free town" in French; named in imitation of Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone

U.S. Embassy Libreville BP 4000 Sabliere Neighborhood Libreville, Gabon Telephone: 241-01-45-71-00 Emergency after-hours telephone: 241-07-38-01-71 Facsimile: 241-01-45-71-05 Email: LibrevilleACS@state.gov

Military Branches

Gabonese Defense Forces (Forces de Defense Gabonaise): Land Force (Force Terrestre), Gabonese Navy (Marine Gabonaise), Gabonese Air Forces (Forces Aerienne Gabonaises, FAG)

Service Age and Obligation

20 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription