Country Profile
From The Report: Gabon 2013
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Located on the equator, Gabon is at the heart of the world’s second-largest rainforest. The country has an abundance of natural resources and is the fourth-largest oil producer in sub-Saharan Africa, at around 250,000 barrels per day. Gabon is also Africa’s second-largest manganese producer and contains significant iron ore deposits along with uranium, gold, rare earth minerals and diamonds. Relative stability has allowed Gabon to underwrite significant socioeconomic development. The continued and steady improvements in the nation’s political participation mechanisms, coupled with the increased enlargement of economic opportunities, will help to secure the gains made in previous years.

This chapter contains interviews with President Ali Bongo Ondimba; Prime Minister Raymond Ndong Sima; Pierre Moussa, President, CEMAC Commission; and Mo Ibrahim, Founder and Chair, Mo Ibrahim Foundation.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Strength through stability: Despite a small population, the country boasts impressive diversity
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Located in central Africa on the Gulf of Guinea, Gabon is a mid-sized country with a relatively small population of 1.6m people. Following a colonial period (1886-1960), when it was ruled by France, the country’s considerable hydrocarbons and mineral wealth has allowed it to enjoy economic development and stability, particularly compared to many of its neighbours. Much of this development took place under the rule of President Omar Bongo Ondimba, who attained the top position in 1967 following…

Overview

The way forward: Aiming to leverage influence across the continent
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Long viewed as a bastion of stability in the region of Central Africa, Gabon has been able to leverage its comparative steadfastness into diplomatic clout throughout sub-Saharan Africa. After gaining independence in 1960 the country surpassed an initial decade of occasional political tension to secure a generally peaceful state. This has allowed Gabon to underwrite significant socioeconomic development, in stark contrast with a region where unrest and disorder have sometimes plagued ambitious…

Interview

OBG talks to Prime Minister Raymond Ndong Sima
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Interview:Raymond Ndong Sima To what extent can Gabon implement economic policies emphasising raw material processing? RAYMOND NDONG SIMA: Beyond Gabon’s abundant and diverse natural resources, including minerals and forestry, the country enjoys political stability, beneficial to long-term industrial development. Local processing of raw materials will boost wealth creation and raise the standard of living of the population in the years ahead. To that extent, we are currently increasing…

Interview

OBG talks to Prime Minister Raymond Ndong Sima
OBG
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Interview:Raymond Ndong Sima To what extent can Gabon implement economic policies emphasising raw material processing? RAYMOND NDONG SIMA: Beyond Gabon’s abundant and diverse natural resources, including minerals and forestry, the country enjoys political stability, beneficial to long-term industrial development. Local processing of raw materials will boost wealth creation and raise the standard of living of the population in the years ahead. To that extent, we are currently increasing…

Interview

OBG talks to Pierre Moussa, President, CEMAC Commission
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Interview:Pierre Moussa How effective has the implementation of free movement within the region been? PIERRE MOUSSA: Integration started a long time ago. The Treaty of Brazzaville was signed almost 50 years ago, creating the Customs and Economic Union of Central Africa, and in 1994 CEMAC was created. The objective now is to accelerate the integration process and make the community’s actions more visible. A common market for Central Africa is being built, which relies on three fundamental…

Analysis

Regional leader: Libreville is taking on more responsibilities on the continent
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The country has significantly strengthened its hand in diplomatic initiatives throughout Central Africa over the past 50 years. Gabon assumed the 2012/13 presidency of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (Communauté Économique et Monétaire de l’Afrique Centrale, CEMAC), the regional body composed of Chad, Cameroon, Gabon, Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic (CAR) and Equatorial Guinea. This has seen Libreville take a lead in the region at a time of tense…

Interview

OBG talks to Mo Ibrahim, Founder and Chair, Mo Ibrahim Foundation
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Interview:Mo Ibrahim How would you rate the current state of Africa’s financial governance regimes? MO IBRAHIM: We are seeing many positive trends on the continent, including greater interest in equities. It is a vote of confidence in Africa and its future, and governance across the board has been improving since 2000. However, investors and businesses must not believe that this is just the responsibility of governments. The importance foreign investors place on better governance and, of…

Interview

OBG talks to Mo Ibrahim, Founder and Chair, Mo Ibrahim Foundation
OBG
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Interview:Mo Ibrahim How would you rate the current state of Africa’s financial governance regimes? MO IBRAHIM: We are seeing many positive trends on the continent, including greater interest in equities. It is a vote of confidence in Africa and its future, and governance across the board has been improving since 2000. However, investors and businesses must not believe that this is just the responsibility of governments. The importance foreign investors place on better governance and, of…