Gabon
Gabon: The End of the Bongos and the Beginning of Something Else
Gabon was for 56 years the kingdom of the Bongos — Omar (1967–2009) then Ali (2009–2023). This small country of 2.3 million inhabitants, rich in oil and forests, was a faithful ally of France, an island of stability in a turbulent region. The coup of August 2023, which overthrew Ali Bongo minutes after his contested re-election, put an end to the dynasty. A new page is opening.
The Post-Bongo Era
General Oligui Nguema, a Bongo cousin, seized power with the support of the army and a population fed up with rigged elections. The transition is underway, with its promises and uncertainties. The oil economy remains dominant, but reserves are dwindling. Gabon is betting on timber, manganese, and ecotourism — its forests are home to gorillas and elephants.
The Ubuntu Strength: Bwiti and Forests
Gabon is the land of Bwiti, that initiatory religion based on iboga — a hallucinogenic plant used in rites of passage. Bwiti connects the living and the dead, structuring Fang and Punu communities. Gabon's forests — among the best preserved in Africa — are green cathedrals. Family solidarity remains strong, even though oil wealth has created inequalities.
« L'étranger qui a des yeux ne connaît pas le chemin »
You need a local guide to move forward
— Proverb fang
Gabon shows us that dynasties always end, and that peoples can awaken. Whether the Gabonese awakening opens a new era or a new cycle remains to be seen.