Gabon Government

What is the capital of Gabon?

Country Name	Gabon
Full Country Name	Gabonese Republic
Local - Long	Republique Gabonaise
Local - Short	Gabon
Etymology- history of name	Name originates from the Portuguese word "gabao" meaning "cloak," which is roughly the shape that the early explorers gave to the estuary of the Komo River by the capital of Libreville
Government Type	Presidential republic
Capital Name	Libreville
Capital - geographic coordinate	0 23 N, 9 27 E
Capital Time Difference	UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Independence	17 August 1960 (from France)
National Holiday	Independence Day, 17 August (1960)
Constitution	History: Previous 1961; latest drafted May 1990, adopted 15 March 1991, promulgated 26 March 1991 Amendments: proposed by the president of the republic, by the Council of Ministers, or by one third of either house of Parliament; passage requires Constitutional Court evaluation, at least two-thirds majority vote of two thirds of the Parliament membership convened in joint session, and approval in a referendum; constitutional articles on Gabon’s democratic form of government cannot be amended; amended several times, last in 2023 (presidential term reduced to 5 years and election reduced to a single vote)

Gabon Capital City Map

Source: Google Maps

Gabon Government and Politics

Who is the president of Gabon?

Executive Branch:	Chief of State: Transitional President Gen. Brice OLIGUI Nguema (since 4 September 2023); note - on 30 August 2023, Gen. Brice OLIGUI Nguema led a military group called the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions in a coup in which President Ali BONGO Ondimba was arrested and detained, election results were canceled, and state institutions were dissolved; on 4 September 2023, Gen. OLIGUI was sworn in as transitional president; note- the military government announced on 13 November 2023 that presidential and legislative elections will be held in August 2025 Head of Government: Interim Prime Minister Raymond Ndong SIMA (since 8 September 2023) Cabinet: Formerly the Council of Ministers, appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the president Elections/Appointments: Formerly, the president directly elected by plurality vote for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 26 August 2023; prime minister appointed by the president; note - on 30 August 2023, Gen. Brice OLIGUI Nguema led a military group called Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions in a coup in which President Ali BONGO Ondimba was arrested and detained, election results were canceled, and state institutions were dissolved; on 4 September 2023, OLIGUI was sworn in as transitional president; a general election is planned for August 2025 Election results: 2016: Ali BONGO Ondimba reelected president; percent of vote - Ali BONGO Ondimba (PDG) 49.8%, Jean PING (UFC) 48.2%, other 2.0% 2009: Ali BONGO Ondimba elected president; percent of vote - Ali BONGO Ondimba (PDG) 41.7%, Andre MBA OBAME (independent) 25.9%, Pierre MAMBOUNDOU (UPG) 25.2%, Zacharie MYBOTO (UGDD) 3.9%, other 3.3%
Citizenship Criteria:	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
Legal System:	Mixed legal system of French civil law and customary law
Suffrage:	18 years of age; universal
Legislative Branch:	Description: Transitional Parliament (formerly the bicameral Parliament) consists of: Senate (70 seats; members appointed by Transitional president; member term NA) National Assembly (98 seats; members appointed by the Transitional president; member term NA) Note - all members represent legally recognized political parties or leading political figures, civil society, and defense and security forces Elections: on 11 September 2023, Transitional President Gen. Brice OLIGUI Nguema appointed 168 members to the Transitional Parliament; elections for a permanent legislature reportedly to follow 2-year transition; note - the military government announced on 13 November 2023 that presidential and legislative elections will be held in August 2025 Election results: All members of the Transitional Parliament appointed by the Transitional president
Judicial Branch:	Highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 4 permanent specialized supreme courts - Supreme Court or Cour de Cassation, Administrative Supreme Court or Conseil d'Etat, Accounting Supreme Court or Cour des Comptes, Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle, and the non-permanent Court of State Security, initiated only for cases of high treason by the president and criminal activity by executive branch officials) Judge selection and term of office: Appointment and tenure of Supreme, Administrative, Accounting, and State Security courts NA; Constitutional Court judges appointed - 3 by the national president, 3 by the president of the Senate, and 3 by the president of the National Assembly; judges serve single renewable 7-year terms Subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; county courts; military courts
Regions or States:	9 provinces; Estuaire, Haut-Ogooue, Moyen-Ogooue, Ngounie, Nyanga, Ogooue-Ivindo, Ogooue-Lolo, Ogooue-Maritime, Woleu-Ntem
Political Parties and Leaders:	Gabonese Democratic Party or PDG [Ali BONGO Ondimba] Restoration of Republican Values or RV The Democrats or LD [Guy NZOUBA-NDAMA] Paul Mba Abessole
International Law Organization Participation:	Has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
International Organization Participation:	ACP, AfDB, AU (suspended), BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSCA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic Representation in the US:	Chief of Mission: Ambassador Noel Nelson MESSONE (12 December 2022) Chancery: 2034 20th Street NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20009 Telephone: [1] (202) 797-1000 FAX: [1] (301) 332-0668 Email address and website: info@gaboneembassyusa.org https://gabonembassyusa.org/en/
Diplomatic Representation from US:	Chief of Mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Ellen B. THORBURN (since 27 October 2022); note - also accredited to Sao Tome and Principe Embassy: Sabliere, B.P. 4000, Libreville Mailing address: 2270 Libreville Place, Washington, DC 20521-2270 Telephone: [241] 011-45-71-00 FAX: [241] 011-45-71-05 Email address and website: ACSLibreville@state.gov https://ga.usembassy.gov/

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