Omar Bongo

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Omar Bongo

The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition | 2008 | The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Copyright 2008 Columbia University Press. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Omar Bongo (El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba) , 1935-, Gabonese political leader, president of Gabon (1967-), b. Albert-Bernard Bongo. He entered the civil service (1958), became minister of information and tourism in 1966, vice president in 1967, and then succeeded to the presidency. He created a one-party state (1968) and was reelected in 1973, 1979, and 1986. His rule has provided stability and attracted foreign investment, but protests forced him to reinstate a multiparty system in 1990. Bongo was reelected in 1993 and 1998 in elections generally regarded as unfair by observers; he triumphed over a divided opposition again in 2005.

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Gabon

A Dictionary of Contemporary World History | 2004 | | © A Dictionary of Contemporary World History 2004, originally published by Oxford University Press 2004. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Gabon A country on the west coast of central Africa. Under French influence from 1853, it was integrated into French Equatorial Africa in 1910. It became an autonomous member of the French Community in 1958, and acquired complete independence on 17 August 1960. In 1967, its first president, Léon Mba, was deposed in a coup by Omar Bongo (b. 1935), who has continued to rule the country in an authoritarian manner, despite introducing façades of democracy. Thus, a new Constitution was proclaimed in 1991, and other political parties were allowed, but only with the help of large-scale electoral fraud did he win the general elections of 1993. Bongo's position was made tenable through the tacit acquiescence of Western leaders, particularly in France, who did not want to see their investments or exports (e.g. of arms) in danger. One of Africa's richest countries in mineral resources, most of the wealth coming in from its oil exports has gone either to foreign-owned companies or to its corrupt leadership and bureaucratic machine. The economy has suffered from its over-reliance on oil exports, high foreign debt, and its dependence on foreign (and especially French) aid.

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JAN PALMOWSKI. "Gabon." A Dictionary of Contemporary World History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 5 Jul. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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Gabon

A Dictionary of World History | 2000 | © A Dictionary of World History 2000, originally published by Oxford University Press 2000. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Gabon An equatorial country on Africa's Atlantic coast, bounded inland by Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, and Congo.



Physical

Along the coast of Gabon are many lagoons, mangrove swamps, and large deposits of oil and natural gas. A broad plain covered by thick rainforest rises gradually to a plateau which surrounds a central river valley, and near the head this vegetation gives way to savannah.

Economy

Gabon is the wealthiest mainland African country, with one of the continent's fastest economic growth rates, based on substantial, albeit now falling, revenues from offshore oilfields. Gabon was a member of OPEC from 1975 until 1996. Mineral deposits also include gold and diamonds, manganese, and uranium.

History

In 1839 the French made it a naval base to suppress slave trade. Thus a French colony developed, exploiting the rare woods, gold, diamonds, other minerals, and oil. The country became autonomous within the French Community in 1958 and fully independent in 1960. Almost entirely on the basis of its natural resources it has had one of the fastest economic growth rates in Africa. After early years of political instability, there has been considerable support for the presidency of Omar Bongo (first elected in 1967). In November 1990 his Gabonese Democratic Party won a general election, following a decision to restore multiparty politics. In 1993, Omar Bongo was re-elected in multiparty presidential elections.

Capital:

Libreville

Area:

267,667 sq km (103,347 sq miles)

Population:

1,208,000 (1998 est)

Currency:

1 CFA franc = 100 centimes

Religions:

Roman Catholic 65.2%; Protestant 18.8%; African indigenous Christian 12.1%; traditional religions 2.9%; Muslim 0.8%

Ethnic Groups:

Fang 30.0%; Eshura 20.0%; Mbete 15.0%; Kota 13.0%; Omyene 15.0%

Languages:

French (official); Fang; Eshura; local languages

International Organizations:

UN; OAU; Non-Aligned Movement; Franc Zone


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Related articles from newspapers, magazines, and more

Gabon's Omar Bongo sworn in as country's leader for fifth time. (President Omar Bongo) (Brief Article)
Magazine article from: Jet; 2/14/1994; 102 words ; Gabon's Omar Bongo recently was sworn in as president for the fifth time, less than 24 hours...presidential election and has declared himself head of a parallel government. Bongo has been the country's chief executive officer since Dec. 2, 1967. A multiparty... Read more
Bongo who goes slowly, goes surely: Christian Lapeyre interviews Gabon's president Omar Bongo, who is one of the longest-reigning heads of state in the world.(GABON)(Interview)
Magazine article from: African Business; 2/1/2009; ; 700+ words ; ...relations with all the presidents of France. How do you describe your relations with the former colonial power? President Omar Bongo: I have known all the French presidents since General de Gaulle and I can assure you that our relations with the old... Read more
Bongo to extend rule to 45 years: President Omar Bongo, already Africa's longest serving head of state, has won another seven years in office following the latest elections. While Bongo's rule has brought stability and prosperity, the question is what will happen when he finally goes and the oil runs out. Neil Ford reports.(politics)
Magazine article from: African Business; 2/1/2006; ; 700+ words ; ...example, there was little doubt that President Omar Bongo would retain his position. President Bongo secured 79.21% of the vote, far ahead of his...Pierre Mamboundou, who won 13.57% of the vote. Bongo and his own Parti Democratique Gabonais (PDG... Read more
EGYPT: MUBARAK RECEIVES MESSAGE FROM GABONESE PRESIDENT.
Newspaper article from: IPR Strategic Business Information Database; 6/12/2006; 96 words ; President Hosni Mubarak received Saturday10/6/2006 a message from Gabonese President Omar Bongo through visiting Gabonese Foreign Minister Jean Ping. Ping said the message dealt with pressing African issues and United Nations... Read more
EGYPT: PRESIDENT MUBARAK RECEIVES A MESSAGE FROM GABONESE COUNTERPART.
Newspaper article from: IPR Strategic Business Information Database; 6/11/2006; 109 words ; ...Affairs, Cooperation and Francophonie Affairs Jean Ping is due in on Friday, carrying a message from Gabonese President Omar Bongo to President Hosni Mubarak. In statements to MENA, the Gabonese Ambassador to Egypt Joseph Mambongou said the message... Read more
Nigeria takes right path.(Editorials)(Senate rejects effort to allow leader a third term)(Editorial)
Newspaper article from: The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR); 5/30/2006; 364 words ; ...countries. Examples range from Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe to Gabon's Omar Bongo to Equatorial Guinea's Teodoro Obian Nguema to Chad's Idriss...the arch- itect of the Darfur genocide, Sudan- ese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, as leader of the African Union. Obasanjo... Read more
Togo: back to square one President Gnassingbe Eyadema won Togo's June election with 57.22% of the vote, preserving his position as Africa's longest serving leader. Can be now deliver the economic promise?
Magazine article from: African Business; 8/1/2003; ; 700+ words ; ...on to power is not rare on the continent and in fact Eyadema tenure is just eight months longer than Gabon's President Omar Bongo and two years longer than that of Mu'ammar Qadhafi in Libya. But once again, allegations of fraud surround last June... Read more
The Chronicle interview.(PING, JEAN)(Interview)
Magazine article from: UN Chronicle; 9/1/2004; 700+ words ; ...been marked by diplomatic success, notably through his contribution to the efforts of the President of Gabon, El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba, to restore peace and stability in Central Africa, in particular in the Republic of the Congo, Chad, the Central... Read more
Gabon and Congo-Brazza: unidentical twins. (Spotlight).
Magazine article from: African Business; 10/1/2002; ; 700+ words ; ...countries in Africa with a President, Omar Bongo, who has ruled for an incredible 35...economy Somewhat surprisingly, President Bongo and his administration have rarely...is possibly the result of President Bongo's image as a regional peacemaker... Read more
EGYPT: KEEN TO SETTLE DARFUR CONFLICT IN AN AFRICAN CONTEXT.(Brief Article)
Newspaper article from: IPR Strategic Business Information Database; 5/17/2005; 178 words ; ...Gaddafi. Attending the two day summit will be Sudanese President Omar Al Basher, Chad President Idriss Dby, Nigerian President Olusegun...current chairman of the African Union and Gabonese President Omar Bongo. The summit will stress the importance of maintaining Sudan... Read more

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