Gabon
 

Gabon, officially the Gabonese Republic (French: République Gabonaise), is a country on the west coast of Central Africa. Located on the equator, Gabon is bordered by Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the north, the Republic of the Congo on the east and south, and the Gulf of Guinea to the west. It has an area of nearly 270,000 square kilometres (100,000 sq mi) and its population is estimated at 2 million people. Its capital and largest city is Libreville.
Since its independence from France in 1960, the sovereign state of Gabon has had three presidents. In the early 1990s, Gabon introduced a multi-party system and a new democratic constitution that allowed for a more transparent electoral process and reformed many governmental institutions.
Abundant petroleum and foreign private investment have helped make Gabon one of the most prosperous countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, with the 7th highest HDI and the fourth highest GDP per capita (PPP) (after Mauritius, Equatorial Guinea and Seychelles) in the region. GDP grew by more than 6% per year from 2010 to 2012. However, because of inequality in income distribution, a significant proportion of the population remains poor.
Gabon's name originates from gabão, Portuguese for "cloak" (and, capitalized, for the country), which is roughly the shape of the estuary of the Komo River by Libreville.

The earliest inhabitants of the area were Pygmy peoples. They were largely replaced and absorbed by Bantu tribes as they migrated. In the 15th century, the first Europeans arrived. By the 18th century, a Myeni speaking kingdom known as Orungu formed in Gabon.
On February 10, 1722, Bartholomew Roberts, a Welsh pirate known as Black Bart, died at sea off Cape Lopez. He raided ships off the Americas and West Africa from 1719 to 1722.
French explorer Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza led his first mission to the Gabon-Congo area in 1875. He founded the town of Franceville, and was later colonial governor. Several Bantu groups lived in the area that is now Gabon when France officially occupied it in 1885.
In 1910, Gabon became one of the four territories of French Equatorial Africa, a federation that survived until 1959. In World War II, the Allies invaded Gabon in order to overthrow the pro-Vichy France colonial administration. The territories of French Equatorial Africa became independent on August 17, 1960. The first president of Gabon, elected in 1961, was Léon M'ba, with Omar Bongo Ondimba as his vice president.
Motto: "Union, Travail, Justice" (French) [translation: "Union, Work, Justice"].
Capital: Libreville (Fort d'Aumale 1843-1849)
Territorial Disputes: UN urges Equatorial Guinea and Gabon to resolve the sovereignty dispute over Gabon-occupied Mbane Island and lesser islands and to establish a maritime boundary in hydrocarbon-rich Corisco Bay.
 

 
 
There is a large number of very minor traditional states (like Mpongwe and Olamba), with very fragmentary records. Orungu is the only major polity.
 
 
MPONGWE
 
  • Rulers (title Oga)
  • Denis I Anchuwe Koke Rapoutchombo.........................1839 - 1876 d. 1876
  • Felix Adende Rapontchombo (1st time)......................1876 - 1884 d. 1911
  • Denis II (1st time).......................................1884 - 1900
  • Felix Adende Rapontchombo (2nd time)......................1900 - 1905
  • Denis II (2nd time).......................................1905 - 1927
 
OLAMBA
 
  • Rulers (title Aguekaza)
  • Glass Noama...............................................1839 - 1848
  • Govern....................................................1848 - ?
  • Tom Case
  • Will Glass
 
ORUNGU
 
    bf.1700  Orungu kingdom founded.
       1927  Kingdom extinguished by French colonial government.
 
  • ABULIA (title Agamwinboni)
  • Reto Ndongo.............................................c.1700 - c.1730 d. c.1730
  • Ndebulia Mbura..........................................c.1730 - 17..
  • Renjangue Ndongo..........................................17.. - c.1750 d. c.1750
  • Renkondje........................................................c.1750
  • Ngwerangu'Iwono.........................................c.1750 - 1790
  • Ndombe...........................................................1790
  • Reombi "Mpolo" (or Renwombi)..............................1790 - 1810
  • Ogul'Issogwe (Rogombe) "Mpolo" (Pasol)....................1810 - 1840
  • Ombango Rogombe "Ikinda" (Pascal).........................1840 - 1862
  • Ndebulia-Rogombe..........................................1862 - 1865
  • Ncege (Ntchengue or Ranyonyuna)...........................1865 - 1882
  • Avonowanga................................................1882 - ?
  • Rogombe-Mentchandi.......................................... ? - 1927 d. 1927 
 
 
               09 Feb 1839  First transfer of sovereignty to France
                             (French Gulf of Guinea settlements).
               11 Jun 1843  French Gabon settlements (1854-1859 including
                             Gorée).
                      1854  Gorée, Gabon, and other French settlements form
                             the Colony of Gorée and Dependencies, headed by
                             the Commandant of the Naval Division of the
                             Western Coasts of Africa.
                             (Division Navale des Côtes Occidentales d'Afrique).
               26 Feb 1859  Gorée re-incorporated into Senegal; the other
                             settlements continue to be subordinated to the
                             Naval Division, now with its center at Gabon.
               04 Oct 1860  Gabon territory part of Ivory Coast-Gabon colony. 
               16 Dec 1883  French Gabon colony.
               27 Apr 1886  Part of French Congo (Gabon territory;
                             under Congo [Brazzaville]).
               11 Dec 1888  Part of Middle Congo-Gabon territory.
               30 Apr 1891  French Equatorial African Protectorate renamed
                             French Congo.
               05 Jul 1902  Gabon territory part of Lower Congo-Gabon colony.
               29 Dec 1903  Gabon colony.
               15 Jan 1910  Part of French Equatorial Africa (AEF) colony
                             (under Congo [Brazzaville]).
 30 Jun 1934 - 31 Dec 1937  Gabon region within unitary AEF colony.
               31 Dec 1937  Gabon overseas territory of France (part of AEF).
 16 Jun 1940 - 12 Nov 1940  Administration loyal to Vichy France
                             (from 12 Nov 1940, under Free French).
               27 Oct 1946  Overseas territory of France (part of AEF).
               28 Nov 1958  Autonomy (Gabonese Republic)(République Gabonaise).
 28 Nov 1958 - 16 Aug 1960  Member State of the Communauté (French Community).
               09 Aug 1960  Flag adopted.
               17 Aug 1960  Independence from France.
                             Text of National Anthem Adopted.
               14 Mar 1991  Constitution in French.
 
 
  • France.............................................09 Feb 1839 - 17 Aug 1960
  • Commandants of the Naval Division of the Western Coasts of Africa
  • Louis Édouard Bouët (1st time).....................09 Feb 1839 - 1845 d. 1871
  • He was known from 1844, as Louis Édouard Bouët-Willaumez
  • Jean-Baptiste Montagniès de la Roque......................1845 - 1848 d. 1862
  • Auguste Laurent François Baudin (1st time).......................1848 d. 1877
  • Louis Édouard Bouët-Willaumez (2nd time)...........01 Sep 1848 - Apr 1850
  • Charles Penaud............................................1850 - 1851 d. 1864
  • Auguste Laurent François Baudin (2nd time)................1851 - 1854
  • Jérôme Félix Monléon......................................1854 - 31 Jan 1856 d. 1856
  • Auguste Léopold Protet.............................31 Jan 1856 - Mar 1859 d. 1862
  • Auguste Bosse.............................................1859 - 1861 d. 1891
  • Octave François Charles, baron Didelot....................1861 - 1863 d. 1886
  • André Émile Léon Laffon de Ladébat........................1863 - 1866 d. 1874
  • Alphonse Jean René, vicomte Fleuriot de Langle............1866 - 1868 d. 1881
  • Alexandre François Dauriac................................1868 - 1869 d. 1878
  • Victor Auguste, baron Duperré.............................1869 - 1870 d. 1900
  • Siméon Bourgeois..........................................1870 - 1872 d. 1887
  • Antoine Louis Marie Le Couriault de Quillio...............1872 - 1874 d. 1877
  • Charles Henri Jules Panon du Hazier.......................1874 - 1875 d. 1897
  • Amédée Louis Ribourt......................................1875 - 1877 d. 1893
  • François Hippolyte Allemand...............................1877 - 1879 d. 1895
  • Bernard Ernest Mottez.....................................1879 - 1881
  • Louis Antoine Richild, baron Grivel.......................1881 - 24 Jan 1883 d. 1883
  • Jules Marie Armand Cavelier de Cuverville.................1884 - 1886 d. 1912
  • Commander
  • Louis Édouard Bouët................................09 Feb 1839 - 11 Jun 1843 d. 1871
  • He was known from 1844, as Louis Édouard Bouët-Willaumez
  • Commandants-particulier of Gabon and Gulf of Guinea Settlements
  • Antoine Devoisins..................................11 Jun 1843 - 1844 d. 1878
  • Joseph Marie Millet..............................................1844
  • André Brisset (1st time)..................................1844 - 1846 d. 1876
  • Eugène Louis Hugues Méquet.......................................1846 d. 1887
  • Clément Grosjean.................................................1846 d. 1859
  • Jean Carrilès.............................................1846 - 1847
  • André Brisset (2nd time)..................................1847 - 1848
  • Adolphe Alexandre Sourdeaux........................25 Mar 1848 - 1848
  • Eugène Jean Antione Desperles......................03 Aug 1848 - 1848 d. 1860
  • Étienne Charles Deschanel.............................Dec 1848 - 1849
  • Jean-Auguste Martin................................10 Aug 1849 - 1850 d. 1882
  • Alexis Édouard Vignon (1st time)...................15 Dec 1850 - 1853 d. 1884
  • Théophile Quillet.........................................1853 - 1857
  • Alexis Édouard Vignon (2nd time)..........................1857 - 1859
  • Pierre Alexandre Mailhetard...............................1859 - 1860 d. 1885
  • César Charles Joseph Pradier.......................04 Aug 1860 - 1861 d. 1875
  • Paul Claude Nicolas Brue..................................1861 - 1863 d. 1866
  • Charles Ferdinand Eugène Baur.............................1863 - 1866
  • Joseph Henri Brunet-Millet................................1866 - 1867 d. 1885
  • Hyacinthe Laurent Théophile Aube..........................1867 - 1868 d. 1890
  • Frédéric Amable Bourgarel.................................1868 - 1869 d. 1897
  • Hippolyte Adrien Bourgin..................................1869 - 1871 d. 1879
  • Gustave Aristide Léopold Garraud..........................1871 - 1873 d. 1888
  • Charles Henri Jules Panon du Hazier.......................1873 - 1875 d. 1897
  • Félix Ambroise Clément....................................1875 - 1876 d. 1884
  • Paul Michel Frédéric Caudière.............................1876 - 1879 d. 1887
  • Augustin Ernest Dumont....................................1879 - 1880 d. 1898
  • Jules Émile Hanet-Cléry...................................1880 - 1881 d. 1890
  • Émile Masson..............................................1881 - 16 Dec 1883 d. 1912
  • Jean Joseph Alfred Cornut-Gentille.................16 Dec 1883 - 1885 d. 1918
  • Georges Élie Pradier......................................1885 - 27 Apr 1886 d. 1912
  • Governor
  • Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza.........................27 Apr 1886 - 29 Jun 1886 d. 1905
  • Lieutenant Governors
  • Noël Eugène Ballay.................................29 Jun 1886 - 26 Apr 1889 d. 1902
  • Charles de Chavannes...............................26 Apr 1889 - 01 Jun 1894 d. 1940
  • Albert Dolisie.....................................01 Jun 1894 - 22 Jan 1899 d. 1899
  • Émile Gentil.......................................01 May 1899 - 1902 d. 1914
  • Louis Auguste Bertrand Ormières....................09 Mar 1904 - 30 Jan 1905 d. 1914
  • Paul Jean François Cousturier (acting).............19 Apr 1905 - 05 Aug 1905 d. 1921
  • Alfred Louis Fourneau (acting).....................05 Aug 1905 - 27 Apr 1906 d. 1930
  • Charles Henri Adrien Noufflard (acting)............27 Apr 1906 - 23 Apr 1907 d. 1936
  • Alfred Albert Martineau............................23 Apr 1907 - 26 Apr 1907 d. 1945
  • Édouard Émile Léon Telle (acting)..................26 Apr 1907 - 20 Jan 1909 d. 1949
  • Frédéric Claude Weber (acting).....................20 Jan 1909 - 10 Feb 1909 d. 1910
  • Charles Amédée Rognon (acting).....................10 Feb 1909 - 18 Oct 1909 d. 1911
  • Pascal Pierre Marie Georges Adam (1st - acting)....18 Oct 1909 - 09 Nov 1909 d. 1916
  • Léon Félix Richaud (acting)........................09 Nov 1909 - Jun 1911 d. 1944
  • Georges Virgile Poulet................................Jun 1911 - 21 Feb 1912 d. 193.
  • Paul Pierre Marie Georges Adam (2nd - acting)......21 Feb 1912 - 18 Apr 1914 d. 1916
  • Marie Casimir Joseph Guyon.........................18 Apr 1914 - 01 Jun 1917 d. 1942
  • Georges Thomann (acting)...........................01 Jun 1917 - 12 Jun 1918 d. 1943
  • Maurice Pierre Lapalud.............................12 Jun 1918 - 30 Jun 1919 d. 1935
  • Jean Henri Marchand................................30 Jun 1919 - 29 May 1922 d. 19..
  • He was acting to 13 Apr 1920.
  • Edmond Émilien Cadier (acting).....................29 May 1922 - 15 Jun 1923 d. 1951
  • Louis Nicolas Jean Marie Cercus (acting)...........15 Jun 1923 - 29 Jul 1924 d. 1952
  • Marie Joseph Jules Pierre Bernard..................29 Jul 1924 - 19 Jun 1931 d. 1950
  • Louis Vingarassamy (acting)........................19 Jun 1931 - Nov 1931 d. 1951
  • Louis Alexis Étienne Bonvin...........................Nov 1931 - 26 Sep 1934 d. 1946
  • Administrator-superior
  • Louis Alexis Étienne Bonvin (continued)............26 Sep 1934 - 24 Oct 1936
  • Governors-delegate
  • Louis Alexis Étienne Bonvin (continued)............24 Oct 1936 - 11 Sep 1937
  • Georges Hubert Parisot.............................11 Sep 1937 - 29 Aug 1938 d. 1969
  • Georges Pierre Masson..............................29 Aug 1938 - 14 Nov 1940 d. 1940
  • He was acting to 02 Nov 1939.
  • André Marie Jules Parant (acting)..................14 Nov 1940 - 15 Mar 1941 d. 1941
  • An unknown person was acting for Parant from 07 Mar 1941 to 15 Mar 1941 and then became Governors-delegate till 26 Mar 1941.
  • Governors
  • Hubert Eugène Paul Carras (acting).................26 Mar 1941 - 04 Jul 1941 d. 1947
  • Marie Louis Victor Valentin-Smith..................04 Jul 1941 - 30 May 1942 d. 1965
  • Charles André Maurice Assier de Pompignan..........30 May 1942 - 26 Aug 1943 d. 1952
  • Paul Vuillaume.....................................26 Aug 1943 - 19 Nov 1944 d. 1975
  • Numa Henri François Sadoul (1st time - acting).....19 Nov 1944 - 28 Mar 1946 d. 1990
  • Roland Joanes Louis Pré............................28 Mar 1946 - 31 Dec 1947 d. 1980
  • Numa Henri François Sadoul (2nd time)..............31 Dec 1947 - 06 Apr 1949
  • Pierre-François Pélieu.............................06 Apr 1949 - 19 Oct 1951 d. 1952
  • He was acting to 04 Jan 1950.
  • Charles Émile Hanin (acting).......................19 Oct 1951 - 25 Apr 1952 d. 1964
  • Yves Jean Digo.....................................25 Apr 1952 - 29 Jan 1958 d. 1974
  • Louis Marius Pascal Sanmarco.......................29 Jan 1958 - Nov 1958 d. 2009
  • High Commissioners
  • Louis Marius Pascal Sanmarco (continued)..............Nov 1958 - Jul 1959
  • Jean Risterucci.......................................Jul 1959 - 17 Aug 1960 d. 1982
  • After voting in favor of the Franco-African Community constitutional referendum of 28 September 1958, Gabon became pseudo-politically independent. Legislative elections were scheduled for 19 June 1960 through the Scrutin de Liste voting system, a form of bloc voting in which each party offers a list of candidates who the population vote for; the list that obtains a majority of votes is declared the winner and wins all the contested seats. Through the redistricting of district and constituency boundaries, the BDG arbitrarily received 244 seats, while the UDSG received 77. In the months that followed, the legislative majority was plagued by internal strife. M'ba, now President of Gabon, decided to dissolve the Assembly and looked to the opposition to strengthen his position. With Aubame, he formed a number of sufficiently balanced political unions to appeal to the electorate. On 12 February, they won 99.75% of the vote, and later that day, M'ba, running unopposed, was elected president of Gabon. For his cooperation, M'ba appointed Aubame foreign minister, replacing André Gustave Anguilé.
  • President
  • Gabriel Léon M'ba (1st time).......................17 Aug 1960 - 17 Feb 1964 d. 1967
  • He was Head of State to 21 Feb 1961. After M'ba's accession to power, the press was suppressed, political demonstrations banned, freedom of expression curtailed, other political parties gradually excluded from power, and the Constitution changed along French lines to vest power in the Presidency, a post that M'ba assumed himself.
  • Revolutionary Committee (Military)
  • When M'ba dissolved the National Assembly in January 1964 to institute one-party rule, an army coup sought to oust him from power and restore parliamentary democracy. From the night of 17 February to the early morning of 18 February 1964, 150 Gabonese military personnel, headed by Lieutenant Jacques Mombo and Valére Essone, arrested President of the National Assembly Louis Bigmann, French commanders Claude Haulin and Major Royer. On Radio Libreville, the military announced to the Gabonese people that a coup d'état had taken place, and that they required technical assistance and told the French not interfere in this matter. M'ba was instructed to broadcast a speech acknowledging his defeat. "The D-Day is here, the injustices are beyond measure, these people are patient, but their patience has limits", he said. "It came to a boil". During these events, no gunshots were fired. The people did not react strongly, which according to the military, was a sign of approval. Since M'ba was otherwise occupied, the French contacted the Vice President of Gabon, Paul-Marie Yembit, who had not been arrested. However, he remained unaccounted for; therefore, they decided to compose a predated letter that Yembit would later sign, confirming their intervention. French paratroopers flew in within 24 hours to restore M'ba to power. Less than 24 hours later, French troops stationed in Dakar and Brazzaville landed in Libreville and restored M'ba to power. Over the course of the operation, one French soldier was killed, while 15 to 25 died on the Gabonese side. After a few days of fighting, the coup ended and the opposition was imprisoned, despite widespread protests and riots. French soldiers still remain in the Camp de Gaulle on the outskirts of Gabon's capital to this day.
  • Daniel Mbene.......................................17 Feb 1964 - 18 Feb 1964 d. 1969
  • Daniel Ndo Edou....................................17 Feb 1964 - 18 Feb 1964 d. 1964
  • Jacques Mombo (President)..........................17 Feb 1964 - 18 Feb 1964
  • Jean-Valère Essone.................................17 Feb 1964 - 18 Feb 1964
  • Chief of Provisional Government
  • Jean-Hilaire Aubame................................18 Feb 1964 - 19 Feb 1964 d. 1989
  • Presidents
  • Gabriel Léon M'ba (2nd time).......................19 Feb 1964 - 28 Nov 1967
  • When M'Ba died in 1967, Bongo replaced him as president.
  • Albert-Bernard Bongo...............................28 Nov 1967 - 08 Jun 2009 d. 2009
  • He became known from 29 Sep 1973 as Omar Bongo and from 15 Nov 2003 as Omar Bongo Ondimba. In March 1968, Bongo declared Gabon a one-party state by dissolving the BDG (Bloc Démocratique Gabonais) and establishing a new party: the Parti Démocratique Gabonais (PDG). He invited all Gabonese, regardless of previous political affiliation, to participate. Bongo sought to forge a single national movement in support of the government's development policies, using the PDG as a tool to submerge the regional and tribal rivalries that had divided Gabonese politics in the past. Bongo was elected President in February 1975; in April 1975, the position of vice president was abolished and replaced by the position of prime minister, who had no right to automatic succession. Bongo was re-elected President in both December 1979 and November 1986 to 7-year terms.
    Bongo headed the single-party regime of the Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG) until 1990, when, faced with public pressure, he was forced to introduce multi-party politics into Gabon. His political survival despite intense opposition to his rule in the early 1990s seemed to stem once again from consolidating power by bringing most of the major opposition leaders at the time to his side. The 1993 presidential election was extremely controversial but ended with his re-election then and the subsequent elections of 1998 and 2005. His respective parliamentary majorities increased and the opposition becoming more subdued with each succeeding election. After Cuban President Fidel Castro stepped down in February 2008, Bongo became the world's longest-ruling non-royal leader. He was one of the longest serving non-royal rulers since 1900. He was President of Gabon for 42 years, from 1967 until his death in 2009.
    • acting for Omar Bongo
    • Didjob Divungi Di Ndinge......................06 May 2009 - 08 Jun 2009
    • He was Vice-President of Gabon from 1997 to 2009. He is the President of the Democratic and Republican Alliance (ADERE), a political party. As Vice-President of Gabon, Divungi Di Ndinge exercised presidential powers in an acting capacity from May 2009 to June 2009, while President Omar Bongo Ondimba was hospitalized.
  • Rose Francine Rogombé (female - interim)...........10 Jun 2009 - 16 Oct 2009 d. 2015
  • She was Acting President of Gabon from June 2009 to October 2009, following the death of long-time President Omar Bongo. She constitutionally succeeded Bongo due to her role as President of the Senate, a post to which she was elected in February 2009. She was a lawyer by profession and a member of the Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG). Rogombé was the first female head of state of Gabon. After her interim presidency, she returned to her post as President of the Senate.
  • Ali Ben Bongo Ondimba..............................16 Oct 2009 - date
  • Ali Bongo is the son adopted of Omar Bongo, who was President of Gabon from 1967 until his death in 2009. During his father's presidency, he was Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1989 to 1991 and represented Bongoville as a Deputy in the National Assembly from 1991 to 1999; subsequently he was Minister of Defense from 1999 to 2009. Following his father's death after 42 years in power, he was first elected 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. Bongo is also President of the Gabonese Democratic Party.
    • acting for Ali Bongo
    • Pierre Claver Maganga-Moussavou (1st time)....15 Nov 2018 - 14 Jan 2019
    • In 1990, Maganga Moussavou founded the Social Democratic Party. He stood for the party in the 1993 and 1998 presidential elections, never managing 1% of the vote. Despite this, President Omar Bongo appointed him to head a succession of ministries from the mid-1990s: Planning, Agriculture, Transport, Civil Aviation and Tourism. He was Vice President of Gabon: 21 August 2017 – 21 May 2019.
    • Pierre Claver Maganga-Moussavou (2nd time)....16 Jan 2019 - 25 Feb 2019
 
 
Currency: The Central African CFA franc (French: franc CFA or simply franc, ISO 4217 code: XAF) is the currency of six independent states in Central Africa: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. The Bank of Central African States (French: Banque des États de l'Afrique Centrale, BEAC) is a central bank, located at Cameroon's capital: Yaoundé, that serves these six central African countries which form the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa. These six countries have also issued normal circulation coins on their name in various years as well.
CFA Franc pegging:
  • 26 December 1945: CFA Franc = 1.70 French Francs.
  • 17 December 1948: CFA Franc = 2 French Francs.
  • 01 January 1959: 50 CFA Francs = (New) French Franc.
  • 12 January 1994: 100 CFA Francs = French Franc.
  • 01 January 1999: 655.957 CFA Franc = Euro.
 
1971
 

KM#12 / Schön# 11 100 Francs. Year: 1971. Weight: 7.05g [7.00g]. Metal: Nickel. Diameter: 25.00 mm. Edge: Reeded. Alignment: Coin. Mint: Monnaie de Paris (mintmark: owl).
Obverse: "BANQUE CENTRALE" (Central Bank) written in banner at the top. Numerals "100" with "FRANCS" written below it in the center. Design on both sides. Date written in banner at the bottom. Reverse: "REPUBLIQUE GABONAISE" (Gabonese Republic) written at the top. Heads of three Giant Elands facing left in the center with grassland below them. Engraver initials "G.B.L.BAZOR" written at right side in smaller characters anti-clockwise. Mintage: 1,300,000. Minted Years: 1971 and 1972. Engraver: Gabriel Bernard / Lucien Georges Bazor.

Note: ESSAI (pattern) type also exists as KM#E3 dated 1971, having mintage: 1,400 and as KM#E4 in gold with mintage: 4 pieces only. "ESSAI" is written above Date.

The giant eland is also known as the Lord Derby eland. Binomial Name: Taurotragus derbianus.
 
1975
 

KM#13 / Schön# 12 100 Francs. Year: 1975. Weight: 6.92g [7.00g]. Metal: Nickel. Diameter: 25.00 mm. Edge: Reeded. Alignment: Coin. Mint: Monnaie de Paris (mintmark: dolphin).
Obverse: "BANQUE DES ETATS DE L'AFRIQUE CENTRALE" (Bank of the Central African States) written in two lines banner at the top. Numerals "100" written in the center. "FRANCS" written below numeral 100 and Date written below it in the center. Design on both sides and at the bottom. Reverse: "REPUBLIQUE GABONAISE" (Gabonese Republic) written in French at the top. Heads of three Giant Elands facing left in the center with grassland below them. Engraver initials "G.B.L.BAZOR" written at right side in smaller characters anti-clockwise. Mintage: 4,000,000. Minted Years: 1975, 1977, 1978, 1982, 1983, 1984, and 1985 (dolphin mintmark). Engraver: Gabriel Bernard / Lucien Georges Bazor.

Note: ESSAI (pattern) type also exists as KM#E5 dated 1975, having mintage: 1,700. "ESSAI" is written above "100".
 
1977
 

Same as above coin KM#13 / Schön# 12 100 Francs, but...

Year: 1977. Weight: 7.10g [7.00g]. Mint: Monnaie de Paris (mintmark: dolphin). Mintage: 2,000,000.
 
1984
 

Same as above coin KM#13 / Schön# 12 100 Francs, but...

Year: 1984. Weight: 6.98g [7.00g]. Mint: Monnaie de Paris (mintmark: dolphin). Mintage: 3,000,000.
 
1985
 

Same as above coin KM#13 / Schön# 12 100 Francs, but...

Year: 1985. Weight: 6.95g [7.00g]. Mint: Monnaie de Paris (mintmark: dolphin). Mintage: 3,000,000.
 
IDAO - Bureau Africain d'Emission issues
Three design of coins of limited mintage were produced by African mint for Gabon: African Primitive "Throwing Knife" and "Stabilité" in 2005 and Pope John Paul II in 2007.
 
2005
 

X#16 1500 CFA Francs (1 Africa). Year: 2005. Weight: 7.21g [7.35g]. Metal: Iron plated Nickel. Diameter: 26.00 mm. Edge: Plain. Alignment: Medal. Mint: Africa Mint.
Obverse: "GABON" written at the top section. African Primitive Coin "Throwing Knife" in the center. "AM" (African mint) initials above the Date. Date at the bottom.

Reverse: Elephant face on Africa Map in the center. Value "1500 CFA" and "1 AFRICA" written at the left side below the map. "EMISSION MONETAIRE DE L'INSTITUT DE DEVELOPPEMENT DE L'AFRIQUE CENTRALE * IDAC *" (clockwise) starting from 3 o'clock around the map. Mintage: 2,005. Minted Years: One year type. This coin is also made in Silver as X#16a with mintage of 25 pieces only.

X#15 3 Africa (4500 CFA Francs). Year: 2005. Weight: 7.57g [7.50g]. Metal: Bi-Metallic; Nickel center and Brass ring. Diameter: 26.00 mm. Edge: Reeded / Plain (alternative 5 patches each). Alignment: Medal. Mint: Africa Mint.
Obverse: "* 4500 CFA * AFRIQUE CENTRALE * REPUBLIQUE GABONAISE *" written in the top section starting at 7 o'clock. A water drop in the center of Gabon Map within the center circle, "S.E. OMAR BONGO ONDIMBA STABILITE 1987 - 2005" (H.E. Omar Bongo Ondimba stability 1987 - 2005) written in French at the bottom in two lines within the center circle. "AM" (African mint) initials above Date. Date "2005" written at the bottom.

Reverse: Elephant face on Africa Map in the center. Value "3 AFRICA" written at the left side below the map. "EMISSION MONETAIRE DE L'INSTITUT DE DEVELOPPEMENT DE L'AFRIQUE CENTRALE * IDAC *" (clockwise) starting from 3 o'clock around the map. Mintage: 2,005. Minted Years: One year type. This coin is also made in bi-metallic as X#15a (Silver center and Gold plated Silver ring) with mintage: 25 and in Silver as X#15b with mintage of 25 pieces only.

Pope John Paul II 4500 CFA Francs 2007 details:

  • X#17 Bi-metallic: Iron plated Nickel center and Brass ring. mintage: 2,007.
  • X#17b Silver: mintage: 27.
  • X#17a Bi-metal Silver center and 24 carats gold plated ring: mintage: 27.
 
 
 
  • Vice President of the Council of Government
  • Gabriel Léon M'ba.............................21 May 1957 - 26 Jul 1958
  • President of the Government Council
  • Gabriel Léon M'ba (continued).................26 Jul 1958 - 28 Nov 1958
  • Head of the Provisional Government
  • Gabriel Léon M'ba (continued).................28 Nov 1958 - 27 Feb 1959
  • Prime ministers
  • Gabriel Léon M'ba (continued).................27 Feb 1959 - 21 Feb 1961
  • Post Abolished: 21 Feb 1961 - 16 Apr 1975.
  • Léon Mébiame..................................16 Apr 1975 - 03 May 1990 d. 2015
  • Casimir Oyé-Mba...............................03 May 1990 - 02 Nov 1994
  • Paulin Obame-Nguema...........................02 Nov 1994 - 23 Jan 1999
  • Jean-François Ntoutoume-Émane.................23 Jan 1999 - 20 Jan 2006
  • Jean Eyeghe Ndong.............................20 Jan 2006 - 17 Jul 2009
  • Paul Biyoghé Mba..............................17 Jul 2009 - 27 Feb 2012
  • Raymond Ndong Sima............................27 Feb 2012 - 27 Jan 2014
  • Daniel Ona Ondo...............................27 Jan 2014 - 29 Sep 2016
  • Franck Emmanuel Issoze-Ngondet................29 Sep 2016 - 15 Jan 2019
  • Former foreign minister (2012-2016) and prime minister (2016-2019) Emmanuel Issoze-Ngondet dies on 11 June 2020.
  • Julien Nkoghe Bekale..........................15 Jan 2019 - 22 Jul 2020
  • On 08 June 2019, President Ali Bongo Ondimba calls on Prime Minister Julien Nkoghe Bekale to form a new government. This is done on June 10, with Alain Claude Bilie-By-Nze being named foreign minister, Edgard Anicet Mboumbou Miyakou interior minister, and Roger Owono Mba finance minister; Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda remains defense minister.
  • Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda (female)......22 Jul 2020 - date
  • On 16 July 2020, President Ali Bongo Ondimba names Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda as prime minister. On July 17 the new government is announced (taking office 22 July 2020) with Pacôme Moubelet Boubeya as foreign minister, Michaël Moussa Adamo as defense minister, and Sosthène Ossoungou Ndibangoye as budget minister; Lambert Noël Matha remains interior minister.
 
 
 
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