In the 1970s, the country discovered abundant oil reserves offshore, allowing it to build a strong middle class and earn the moniker “central Africa’s little emirate”.
Military officers on Wednesday announced that they had taken power following elections that, according to official results, were won by President Ali Bongo Ondimba. The people has since taken to the streets in solidarity with the military.
– The Bongos –
The small central African state has been ruled by the same family for more than 55 out of its 63 years since independence from France in 1960.
Bongo, 64, who was seeking a third term in Saturday’s election, took over when his father Omar died in 2009 after nearly 42 years in power.
Bongo senior, who took office in 1967, had the reputation of a kleptocrat — one of the richest men in the world, with a fortune derived from Gabon’s oil wealth.
His son grew up the carefree scion of a wealthy ruling family and was once known by his initials of ABO, Ali B — or, less flattering, “Monsieur Fils” (Mr Son).
In October 2018, Bongo suffered a stroke that sidelined him for 10 months. The episode stoked claims he was unfit to rule and fuelled a minor attempted coup.
Gabon’s former President Omar Bongo allegedly possesses had 70 bank accounts, 39 apartments, 2 Ferraris, 6 Mercedes Benz cars, 3 Porsches and a Bugatti in France. He ruled for 42 years (from 1967 to 2009). His son, Ali Bongo has been President since 2009.
– Oil powerhouse –
Gabon is one of the richest countries in Africa in terms of per-capita GDP, thanks largely to oil revenues and the small population of 2.3 million.
In the 1970s, the country discovered abundant oil reserves offshore, allowing it to build a strong middle class and earn the moniker “central Africa’s little emirate”.
Oil accounts for 60 percent of the country’s revenues.
But a third of the population still lives below the poverty line of $5.50 per day, according to the World Bank.
– Africa’s ‘Eden’ –
Forests cover 88 percent of the surface of Gabon, providing a haven for gorillas, buffalo, panthers, elephants, chimpanzees and other species.
The country, which markets itself as the “last Eden”, has become a major advocate for conservation in a region where wildlife is being battered by wars, habitat destruction and the bushmeat trade.
In 2002, it set up a network of 13 national parks covering 11 percent of its territory.
One of the big success stories is conservation of critically endangered African forest elephants. Their global numbers have fallen 86 percent in 30 years but in Gabon they have doubled in a decade.
– Healer or hallucinogenic? –
A powerful psychoactive root found in Gabonese forests is used to make a drug that has been touted as a potential healer of heroin and cocaine addiction.
The hallucinogenic iboga root has long been used in an ancestral ritual known as “bwiti”, which combines worship of forest spirits with elements of Christianity.
High doses can have effects similar to LSD, mescaline or amphetamines, and cause anxiety, extreme apprehension and hallucinations.
But the pill form of the drug, ibogaine, has also been hailed for helping some drug addicts kick their habit.
Treatment centres using the drug have sprung up in countries including Costa Rica, New Zealand and the Netherlands.
Mali, Burkina Faso ,Niger now Gabon since 2020 seems there is a coup disease spreading like wild fire in the African geolocation.
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