AFRICA/GABON - Information

Rome (Agenzia Fides) - Gabon, with an area of 267,667sq km. And a population of about 1,500,000 is situated at the heart of the continent of Africa. Irrigated by the basin of the River Ogoué, the country has an equatorial climate with rain all the year round. The territory is covered by dense rain forests.
Population. Gabon was populated by Babinga, Pigmy hunters. In the 16th century the territory was invaded by the Myene, who were joined successively by other peoples. Today more than half the population is Bantu, one of 40 different ethnic groups, Galoa, Nkomi, Irungu, and others. One third are Fang and Kwele in the north; there are minority Punu and Nzabi communities in the south, and there are also Baka and Babongo Pigmies.
Administrative. Division: the country has 9 regions and 37 prefectures: Estuaire, Haut-Ogoué, Moyen-Ogoué, Nyanga, Ngounié, Ogoué-ivindo, Ogoué-maritime, Ogoué-lolo, Woleu Ntem. Libreville è la Capitale. Le altre grandi città sono Port Gentil, Masuku, Oyem.
The official language is French.
History. A former French colony, Gabon ahs been independent since 17 August 1960. According to the Constitution of 1961 the president is elected for a 7 year mandate. The first president was Léon M'ba, who died in 1967, and was succeeded by minister of defence Bongo, later Albert-Benard, who continued faithfully along the line inaugurated by his predecessor. Bongo, baptised in the Catholic Church, converted to Islam in 1973, taking the name of El Hadj Ornar Bongo. In foreign policy Bongo maintained good relations with the countries in the Region. He was re-elected in 1979 and 1986, with 99% of the votes in presidential elections in which he was the only candidate. At the same time as the political changes in Eastern Europe at the end of 1989 Gabonese opposition demanded democracy. After violent clashes in the streets the President amended the Constitution and introduced a multiparty, lifted the censure on the press, invited opposition leaders to join the government. In June 1990 the country's political and social organisations gathered for a national conference and agreed to hold free presidential elections. Bongo won and his (PDG) obtained a majority in the National Assembly.
The new Constitution, approved in 1991, formally established the multiparty system. Elections in 1993, won again by Omar Bongo, were protested by the Opposition. With regard to Church state relations on 12 December 1997 an agreement was reached between Gabon and the Holy See on certain juridical principals and norms, relative to their relations and collaboration. The agreement was ratified on 2 June 1999. Gabon was the first sub-Saharan country to sign and international agreement with the Holy See. At present a Statute for Catholic Education in Gabon is being discussed. The President offered a contribution towards the construction of the new St John the Apostle Cathedral in Mouila. Gabon is known as small oasis of peace in the tormented region of Central Africa.
Economy: the country's resources of oil, timber and minerals has allowed it to preserve its virgin rain forests and rich bio-diversity. Until 1970 when oil was discovered off-shore Gabon's economy depended exclusively on timber and manganese. Since then oil has become the engine of Gabon's economy, representing 50% of the Gross National Product and 85% of its exports. However the country is also rich in manganese, uranium, iron and gold. Its agricultural produce is limited, mainly to coffee, cacao, sugar and palm heart and Gabon has to import food..
Evangelisation: The first attempt at evangelisation was in 1673, by a Capuchin missionary. In 1884 Fr. Bessieux, of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit was sent to Libreville, and in 1863, the apostolic vicariate of Gabon was created; a second mission was founded at Donguia in 1875, evangelisation of the interior began in 1878 and extended to Cameroon, Spanish Guinea and Middle Congo (Congo-Brazzaville); in 1899 the first local priest was ordained; in 1913 the mission of Mourindi was founded; in 1955 14 September the Catholic hierarchy was established dependent on Brazzaville (Congo); in 1958 Gabon Ecclesiastic Province with Metropolitan See at Libreville; in 1958 Mouila diocese was created; in 1961 Bishop Ndong, the first local Bishop was ordained; creation of Oyem diocese in 1969 and that of Franceville in 1974; in 1982 Pope John Paul II made a pastoral visit to Gabon; in 2003 Port-Gentil diocese was created and the Apostolic Prefecture of Makokou was established.
Information: (source: Catholic Annual of Statistics 2005): Catholics: 759,000; dioceses: 6; parishes: 74; bishops: 5; diocesan priests 65; religious priests 68; brothers: 19; sisters: 165; catechists: 1.494. The Catholic Church runs 28 kindergartens with 4,961 pupils; 223 primary schools with 62,934 pupils; 22 middle and high schools with 12,897 pupils; 12 dispensaries, a centre for leprosy patients and 7 centres for the chronically ill and disabled. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 26/10/2007 righe 70 parole 922)