Gabon Coup

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in news?
• Gabon country profile
• Recent Military Takeovers in former French Colonies
• India – Gabon Relationship

Why in news?

• The Military seized power in the West African country of Gabon, making it the eighth former French Colony in the region to see a coup d’etat since 2020.
• The coup was announced on national TV minutes after election results handed President Ali Bongo his third consecutive term in power.
• After the army deposed him in a coup and put him under house arrest, he asked his supporters to make noise in his support.
• However, the crowds that have thronged the streets have instead celebrated the coup.
  • Bongo’s family ruled Gabon for more than 55 years, and he faced allegations of corruption, sham elections and failure to spend more of Gabon’s oil and mineral revenues on the poor.

Gabon country profile

• Geographical location
  • 
  • Gabon is located in Central Africa, along the west coast of the continent. It is situated near the equator.
  • Gabon is bordered by Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the north, the Republic of the Congo to the east and south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west.
  • Its position near the equator gives Gabon a tropical climate and diverse ecosystems, including dense rainforests and coastal areas.
    • Nearly 90% of the country is covered by forests.
  • Libreville is the capital and largest city of Gabon, located on the country's western coast.
• Political profile
  • Gabon has had few leaders since its independence from France in 1960, with Omar Bongo ruling as president for more than four decades until his death in 2009.
  • During his presidency, Gabon maintained a close relationship with France under a system known as "Francafrique", receiving both political and military support in exchange for business favours.
  • Gabon is a major oil producer but a third of its population live in poverty, according to the World Bank.
    • A member of OPEC, Gabon is Africa’s seventh-largest oil producer.

Recent Military Takeovers in former French Colonies

India – Gabon Relationship

• India and Gabon have enjoyed warm and friendly relations since the pre-independence era of Gabon.
• Both India and Gabon are members of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
• The then Vice President of India visited Gabon in May 2022 making it the first-ever high-level visit of India to Gabon.
• Bilateral Trade
  • It reached to USD 1.12 billion in 2021-22. India is the 2nd largest destination for Gabonese exports.
• Energy Cooperation
  • Gabon holds importance for India’s energy security.
  • India imported about USD 670 million worth crude oil from Gabon in 2021-22.
• Cooperation in Education
  • A number of Gabonese nationals pursue scholarship/training programs.
  • These programs are offered by India under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) and ICCR schemes.

Q1) What is the capital of Gabon?

Libreville is the capital and largest city of Gabon. Occupying 65 square kilometres (25 sq mi) in the northwestern province of Estuaire, Libreville is a port on the Komo River, near the Gulf of Guinea.

Q2) What is Francafrique?

"Françafrique" is a term often used to describe the historically close and complex relationship between France and its former African colonies, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is a portmanteau of "France" and "Afrique" (the French word for Africa). The concept of Françafrique encompasses various political, economic, and military ties that France has maintained with its former colonies in Africa since their independence.

Source: Gabon coup: Army seizes power from Ali Bongo and puts him in house arrest | PIB | BBC | Indian Express