Gabon
 

9 Feb 1839 - 29 Jun 1959 29 Jun 1959 - 9 Aug 1960 Adopted 9 Aug 1960 Map of Gabon Hear National Anthem "La Concorde" (The Concord) Text of National Anthem Adopted 17 Aug 1960 Constitution  (14 Mar 1991; in French)  Capital: Libreville (Fort-d'Aumale 1843-1849) Currency: Communauté Financière Africaine Franc (XAF) National Holiday: 17 Aug (1960) Jour de l'indépendance (Independence Day) Population: 2,119,036 (2018) GDP: $36.6 billion (2017) Exports: $5.56 billion (2017) Imports: $2.82 billion (2017)  Ethnic groups: Gabonese-born 80.1% (includes Fang 23.2%, Shira-Punu/Vili 18.9%, Nzabi-Duma 11.3%, Mbede-Teke 6.9%,  Myene 5%, Kota-Kele 4.9%, Okande-Tsogo 2.1%, Pygmy 0.3%, other 7.5%), Cameroonian 4.6%, Malian 2.4%, Beninese 2.1%,  acquired Gabonese nationality 1.6%, Togolese 1.6%, Senegalese  1.1%, Congolese (Brazzaville) 1%, other 5.5% (includes Congolese [Kinshasa], Equatorial Guinean, Nigerian) (2012) Total Armed Forces: 4,700 (2010) French Troops: 450 (2016) Merchant marine: 27 ships (2017) Religions: Roman Catholic 42.3%, Protestant 12.3%, other Christian 27.4%, Muslim 9.8%, animist 0.6%, other 0.5%,  none/no answer 7.1% (2012) International Organizations/Treaties: ACP, AfCFTA, AfDB, APM, AU, BDEAC, BEAC, BTWC, C, CEEAC, CEMAC, CTBT, CWC, EITI, ESCR, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, ICSID, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, IRENA, ISA, ISESCO, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, NPT, NTBT, OIC, OIF, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCLOS, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFCC, UNFCC-KP, UNFCC-PA, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Gabon Index Chronology  9 Feb 1839                First transfer of sovereignty to France                              (French Gulf of Guinea settlements). 11 Jun 1843                French Gabon settlements (1854-1859 including                               Gorée). Fort-d'Aumale built by the French.  1 Nov 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. 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.  4 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)                               (see Congo [Brazzaville]). 11 Dec 1888                Part of Middle Congo-Gabon territory 30 Apr 1891                French Equatorial African Protectorate renamed                              French Congo.  5 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                              (see 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 1940 - 12 Nov 1940  Free French and Allied forces invade Gabon                              (Lambaréné taken 5 Nov 1940, Libreville 10 Nov                              1940, and Port-Gentil on 12 Nov 1940). 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). 17 Aug 1960                Independence from France. Gabon and Dependencies (1839-1886) Traditional States Orungu (1790-1927) ------------------- Mpongwe ------------------- Olamba Historical Maps of Gabon

Commandants-particulier of Gabon and Gulf of Guinea Settlements
(at Fort-d'Aumale, from 1849 Libreville)
18 Jun 1843 - 1843         Guillemain
1843 - 1844                Antoine Devoisins                  (b. 1808 - d. 1878)
1844                       Jean-Marie Millet                  (d. 1845)      
1845 - 1846                André Brisset (1st time)           (b. 1808 - d. 1876)
1846                       Eugène Louis Hugues Méquet         (b. 1812 - d. 1887)
1846                       Clément Grosjean                   (b. 1811 - d. 1859)
1846 - 1847                Jean Carrilès
1847 - 1848                André Brisset (2nd time)           (s.a.)
25 Mar 1848 - 1848         Adolphe Alexandre Sourdeaux        (b. 1819 - d. 1883)
 3 Aug 1848 - 1848         Eugène Jean Antione Desperles      (b. 1819 - d. 1860)
Dec 1848 - 1849            Étienne Charles Deschanel
10 Aug 1849 - 1850         Jean-Auguste Martin                (b. 1814 - d. 1882)
15 Dec 1850 - 1853         Alexis Édouard Vignon (1st time)   (b. 1806 - d. 1884)
1853 - 1856                Peters Théophile Guillet           (b. 1815 - d. ....)
1856 - 1859                Alexis Édouard Vignon (2nd time)   (s.a.)
1859 - 1860                Pierre Alexandre Mailhetard        (b. 1822 - d. 1885)
 4 Aug 1860 - 1861         César Charles Joseph Pradier       (b. 1811 - d. 1875)
1861 - 1863                Paul Claude Nicolas Brüe           (b. 1808 - d. 1866)
1863 - 1866                Charles Ferdinand Eugène Baur    
1866 - 1867                Joseph Henri Brunet-Millet         (b. 1821 - d. 1885)
1867 - 1868                Hyacinthe Laurent Théophile Aube   (b. 1826 - d. 1890)
1868 - 1869                Frédéric Amable Bourgarel          (b. 1826 - d. 1897)
1869 - 1871                Hippolyte Adrien Bourgin           (b. 1826 - d. 1879)
1871 - 1873                Gustave Aristide Léopold Garraud   (b. 1820 - d. 1888)
1873 - 1875                Charles Henri Jules Panon du       (b. 1827 - d. 1897)
                             Hazier 
1875 - 1876                Félix Ambroise Clément             (b. 1822 - d. 1884)
1876 - 1879                Paul Michel Frédéric Caudière      (b. 1822 - d. 1887)
1879 - 1880                Augustin Ernest Dumont             (b. 1835 - d. 1898)
1880 - 1881                Jules Émile Hanet-Cléry            (b. 1833 - d. 1890)
1881 - 16 Dec 1883         Émile Masson                       (b. 1832 - d. 1912)
16 Dec 1883 - 1885         Jean Joseph Alfred Cornut-Gentille (b. 1839 - d. 1918)
1885 - 27 Apr 1886         Georges Élie Pradier               (b. 1843 - d. 1912)
Governor
27 Apr 1886 - 29 Jun 1886  Pierre Paul François Camille       (b. 1852 - d. 1905)
                             Savorgnan de Brazza 
                            (= Pietro Paolo Savorgnan di Brazzà)
Lieutenant governors
29 Jun 1886 - 12 Mar 1889  Noël Eugène Ballay                 (b. 1847 - d. 1902)
12 Mar 1889 -  1 Jun 1894  Fortuné Charles de Chavannes       (b. 1853 - d. 1940)
 1 Jun 1894 - 22 Jan 1899  Louis Henry Albert Dolisie         (b. 1856 - d. 1899)
 1 May 1899 - 1902         Émile Gentil                       (b. 1866 - d. 1914)
21 Jan 1904 - 19 Apr 1905  Louis Auguste Bertrand Ormières    (b. 1851 - d. 1914)
19 Apr 1905 -  5 Aug 1905  Paul Jean François Cousturier      (b. 1849 - d. 1921)
                             (acting)
 5 Aug 1905 - 27 Apr 1906  Alfred Louis Fourneau (acting)     (b. 1860 - d. 1930)
27 Apr 1906 - 23 Apr 1907  Charles Henri Adrien Noufflard     (b. 1872 - d. 1936)
                             (acting)
23 Apr 1907 - 26 Apr 1907  Alfred Albert Martineau            (b. 1859 - d. 1945)
26 Apr 1907 - 20 Jan 1909  Édouard Émile Léon Telle (acting)  (b. 1859 - d. 1949)
20 Jan 1909 - 10 Feb 1909  Frédéric Claude Weber (acting)     (b. 1855 - d. 1910)
10 Feb 1909 -  9 Nov 1909  Charles Amédée Rognon (acting)     (b. 1861 - d. 1911)
 9 Nov 1909 - Jun 1911     Léon Félix Richaud (acting)        (b. 1871 - d. 1944)
Jun 1911 - 21 Feb 1912     Georges Virgile Poulet             (b. 1859 - d. 193.)
21 Feb 1912 - 18 Apr 1914  Paul Pierre Marie Georges Adam     (b. 1865 - d. 1916)
                             (acting)
18 Apr 1914 -  1 Jun 1917  Marie Casimir Joseph Guyon         (b. 1870 - d. 1942)
 1 Jun 1917 - 12 Jun 1918  Georges Thomann (acting)           (b. 1872 - d. 1943)
12 Jun 1918 - 30 Jun 1919  Maurice Pierre Lapalud             (b. 1868 - d. 1935)
30 Jun 1919 - 29 May 1922  Jean-Henri Marchand                (b. 1864 - d. 19..)
                             (acting to 13 Apr 1920)
29 May 1922 - 15 Jun 1923  Edmond Émilien Cadier (acting)     (b. 1868 - d. 1951)
12 Jun 1923 - 29 Jul 1924  Louis Nicolas Jean-Marie Cercus    (b. 1871 - d. 1952)
                             (acting)
29 Jul 1924 - 19 Jun 1931  Marie Joseph Jules Pierre Bernard  (b. 1876 - d. 1950)
19 Jun 1931 - Nov 1931     Louis Vingarassamy (acting)        (b. 1880 - d. 1951)
Nov 1931 - 26 Sep 1934     Louis Alexis Étienne Bonvin        (b. 1886 - d. 1945)
Administrator-superior
26 Sep 1934 - 24 Oct 1936  Louis Alexis Étienne Bonvin        (s.a.)
Governors-delegate
24 Oct 1936 - 11 Sep 1937  Louis Alexis Étienne Bonvin        (s.a.)
11 Sep 1937 - 29 Aug 1938  Georges Hubert Parisot             (b. 1887 - d. 1969)
29 Aug 1938 - 14 Nov 1940  Georges Pierre Masson              (b. 18.. - d. 1940)
                             (acting to 2 Nov 1939)
14 Nov 1940 - 15 Mar 1941  André Marie Jules Parant (acting)  (b. 1897 - d. 1941)
 7 Mar 1941 - 26 Mar 1941  ....
                             (acting [for Parant to 15 Mar 1941])
Governors
26 Mar 1941 -  4 Jul 1941  Hubert Eugène Paul Carras (acting) (b. 1890 - d. 1947)
 4 Jul 1941 - 31 May 1942  Marie Louis Victor Valentin-Smith  (b. 1883 - d. 1965)
31 May 1942 - 26 Aug 1943  Charles André Maurice Assier de    (b. 1889 - d. 1952)
                             Pompignan
26 Aug 1943 - 19 Nov 1944  Paul Vuillaume                     (b. 1896 - d. 1975)
19 Nov 1944 - 28 Mar 1946  Numa Henri François Sadoul         (b. 1906 - d. 1990)
                             (1st time) (acting)
28 Mar 1946 - 31 Dec 1947  Roland Joanes Louis Pré            (b. 1907 - d. 1980)
31 Dec 1947 -  6 Apr 1949  Numa Henri François Sadoul         (s.a.)
                             (2nd time)
 6 Apr 1949 - 19 Oct 1951  Pierre François Pélieu             (b. 1906 - d. 1952)
                             (acting to 4 Jan 1950)
19 Oct 1951 - 25 Apr 1952  Charles Émile Hanin (acting)       (b. 1895 - d. 1964)
25 Apr 1952 - 29 Jan 1958  Yves Jean Digo                     (b. 1897 - d. 1974)
29 Jan 1958 - Nov 1958     Louis Marius Pascal Sanmarco       (b. 1912 - d. 2009)
High Commissioners
Nov 1958 - Jul 1959        Louis Marius Pascal Sanmarco       (s.a.)
Jul 1959 - 17 Aug 1960     Jean Risterucci                    (b. 1911 - d. 1982)
Presidents
17 Aug 1960 - 17 Feb 1964  Gabriel Léon M'ba (1st time)       (b. 1902 - d. 1967)  BDG
                             (head of state to 21 Feb 1961)
17 Feb 1964 - 18 Feb 1964  Revolutionary Committee
                           - Daniel Mbene                     (b. .... - d. 1969)  Mil
                           - Jean-Valère Essone                                    Mil
                           - Jacques Mombo                    (b. 1943)            Mil
                           - Daniel Ndo Edou                  (b. .... - d. 1964)  Mil
18 Feb 1964 - 19 Feb 1964  Jean-Hilaire Aubame                (b. 1912 - d. 1989)  UDSG
                             (chief of Provisional Government)
19 Feb 1964 - 28 Nov 1967  Gabriel Léon M'ba (2nd time)       (s.a.)               BDG
28 Nov 1967 -  8 Jun 2009  Albert-Bernard Bongo               (b. 1935 - d. 2009) BDG;1968 PDG
                             (from 29 Sep 1973, Omar Bongo;
                             from 15 Nov 2003, Omar Bongo Ondimba)
 6 May 2009 -  8 Jun 2009  Didjob Divungi Di Ndinge           (b. 1946)            ADERE
                             (acting for Bongo)
10 Jun 2009 - 16 Oct 2009  Rose Francine Rogombé (f)          (b. 1942 - d. 2015)  PDG
                             (interim)
16 Oct 2009 -              Ali Ben Bongo Ondimba              (b. 1959)            PDG
15 Nov 2018 - 14 Jan 2019  Pierre Claver Maganga-Moussavou    (b. 1952)            PSD
                             (1st time)(acting for Bongo)
16 Jan 2019 - 25 Feb 2019  Pierre Claver Maganga-Moussavou    (s.a.)               PSD
                             (2nd time)(acting for Bongo)

Vice President of the Council of Government
21 May 1957 - 22 Sep 1958  Gabriel Léon M'ba                  (s.a.)               BDG
President of the Government Council
22 Sep 1958 - 28 Nov 1958  Gabriel Léon M'ba                  (s.a.)               BDG
Head of the Provisional Government
28 Nov 1958 - 27 Feb 1959  Gabriel Léon M'ba                  (s.a.)               BDG
Prime ministers
27 Feb 1959 - 21 Feb 1961  Gabriel Léon M'ba                  (s.a.)               BDG
21 Feb 1961 - 16 Apr 1975  Post Abolished
16 Apr 1975 -  3 May 1990  Léon Mébiame M'ba                  (b. 1934 - d. 2015)  PDG
 3 May 1990 -  2 Nov 1994  Casimir Marie Oyé-M'ba             (b. 1942 - d. 2021)  PDG
 2 Nov 1994 - 23 Jan 1999  Paulin Obame-Nguema                (b. 1934)            PDG
23 Jan 1999 - 20 Jan 2006  Jean-François Ntoutoume Emane      (b. 1939)            PDG
20 Jan 2006 - 17 Jul 2009  Jean Eyeghe Ndong                  (b. 1946)            PDG
17 Jul 2009 - 27 Feb 2012  Paul Biyoghé M'ba                  (b. 1953)            PDG
27 Feb 2012 - 24 Jan 2014  Raymond Ndong Sima                 (b. 1955)            PDG
24 Jan 2014 - 29 Sep 2016  Daniel Ona Ondo                    (b. 1945)            PDG
29 Sep 2016 - 15 Jan 2019  Franck Emmanuel Issoze Ngondet     (b. 1961 - d. 2020)  PDG
15 Jan 2019 - 22 Jul 2020  Julien Nkoghe Bekale               (b. 1958)            PDG
22 Jul 2020 -              Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda (f)(b. 1964)            PDG

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. 

Party abbreviations: ADERE = Alliance Démocratique et Républicaine (Democratic and Republican Alliance, est.1990); PDG = Parti Démocratique Gabonais (Gabonese Democratic Party, authoritarian, conservative, former BDG, 1968-90 only legal party, est.Mar 1968); PSD = Parti Social-Démocrate (Social Democratic Party, est.1991); Mil = Military;
- Former parties: BDG = Bloc Démocratique Gabonais (Gabonese Democratic Bloc, 1953-Mar 1968, then PDG); UDSG = Union Démocratique et Sociale Gabonaise (Gabonese Democratic and Social Union, 1946-1968)

 9 Feb 1839                First transfer of sovereignty to France.
 1 Nov 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 is re-incorporated into Senegal; the other
                             settlements continue to be subordinated to the 
                             Naval Division, now with its center at Gabon.
27 Apr 1886                Part of French Congo. 

Commandants of the Naval Division of the Western Coasts of Africa
 9 Feb 1839 - 1842         Louis Édouard Bouët (1st time)     (b. 1808 - d. 1871)
21 Sep 1842 - 1843         Auguste Laurent François Baudin    (b. 1800 - d. 1877)
                             (1st time)
30 Jul 1843 - 1845         Louis Édouard Bouët (2nd time)     (s.a.)
                             (from 1844, Louis Édouard Bouët-Willaumez)
19 Jul 1845 - 22 May 1848  Jean-Baptiste Montagniès de la     (b. 1793 - d. 1862)
                             Roque
22 May 1848 - 1848         Auguste Laurent François Baudin    (s.a.)
                             (2nd time)
 1 Sep 1848 - 1850         Louis Édouard Bouët-Willaumez      (s.a.)
                             (3rd time) 
13 Feb 1850 - 1851         Charles Pénaud                     (b. 1800 - d. 1864)
19 Oct 1851 - 1854         Auguste Laurent François Baudin    (s.a.)
                             (3rd time)
21 Feb 1854 - 31 Jan 1856  Jérôme Félix Monléon               (b. 1798 - d. 1856)
31 Jan 1856 - 1859         Auguste Léopold Protet             (b. 1808 - d. 1862)
19 Feb 1859 - 1861         Auguste Bosse                      (b. 1809 - d. 1891)
22 Jul 1861 - 1863         Octave François Charles, baron     (b. 1812 - d. 1886)
                             Didelot
16 Aug 1863 - 1866         André Émile Léon Laffon de Ladébat (b. 1807 - d. 1874)
1866 - 1868                Alphonse Jean René, vicomte        (b. 1809 - d. 1881)
                             Fleuriot de Langle 
1868 - 1869                Alexandre François Dauriac         (b. 1812 - d. 1878)
1869 - 1870                Victor Auguste, baron Duperré      (b. 1825 - d. 1900)
1870 - 1872                Siméon Bourgeois                   (b. 1815 - d. 1887)
1872 - 1874                Antoine Louis Marie Le Couriault   (b. 1815 - d. 1877)
                             de Quillio
1874 - 1875                Charles Henri Jules Panon du       (b. 1827 - d. 1897)
                             Hazier 
1875 - 1877                Amédée Louis Ribourt               (b. 1821 - d. 1893)
1877 - 1879                François Hippolyte Allemand        (b. 1820 - d. 1895)
1879 - 1881                Adolphe Lucien Mottez              (b. 1822 - d. 1892)
1881 - 24 Jan 1883         Louis Antoine Richild, baron       (b. 1827 - d. 1883)
                             Grivel
1884 - 1886                Jules Marie Armand Cavelier de     (b. 1834 - d. 1912)
                             Cuverville 

Note: There is a large number of very minor traditional states (like Mpongwe and Olamba), with very fragmentary records. Orungu is the only major polity.

bf.1700                    Orungu kingdom founded.
1927                       Kingdom extinguished by French colonial government.

Rulers (title Agamwinboni)
c.1700 - c.1730            Reto Ndongo                        (b. c.1670 - d. c.1730)
c.1730 - 17..              Ndebulia Mbura                     (b. c.1700 - d. ....)
17.. - c.1750              Renjangue Ndongo                   (b. c.1700 - d. c.1750) 
c.1750                     Renkondje                          (b. c.1730 - d. ....)
c.1750 - 1790              Ngwerangu'Iwono                    (b. c.1730 - d. ....) 
1790                       Ndombe
1790 - 1810                Reombi "Mpolo" (or Renwombi)       (b. c.1760 - d. 18..)
1810 - 1840                Ogul'Issogwe (Rogombe) "Mpolo"
                             (Pasol)
1840 - 1862                Ombango Rogombe "Ikinda" (Pascal)
1862 - 1865                Ndebulia-Rogombe
1865 - 1882                Ncege (Ntchengue or Ranyonyuna)
1882 - ....                Avonowanga
.... - 1927                Rogombe-Mentchandi                 (d. 1927)

Mpongwe
 
Rulers (title Oga)
1839 - 1876                Denis I Anchuwe Koke Rapoutchombo  (b. 1790 - d. 1876)
1876 - 1884                Felix Adende Rapontchombo          (b. 1844 - d. 1911)
                             (1st time) 
1884 - 1900                Denis II (1st time)  
1900 - 1905                Felix Adende Rapontchombo          (s.a.) 
                             (2nd time)
1905 - 1927                Denis II (2nd time) 

Olamba
 
Rulers (title Aguekaza)
1839 - 1848                Glass Noama
1848 - ....                Govern
.... - ....                Tom Case
.... - ....                Will Glass