Independence: 17 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Renovation Day, 12 March (1968) (Gabonese
Democratic Party established)
Constitution: adopted 14 March 1991
Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court; compulsory ICJ jurisdiction not accepted
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President El Hadj Omar BONGO (since 2 December 1967)
was elected for a five-year term by universal suffrage on 5 December
1993 (next election to be held 1998); results - President Omar BONGO
received 51% of the vote
head of government: Prime Minister Paulin OBAME Nguema (since 9
December 1994) was appointed by the president
cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the prime minister in
consultation with the president
Legislative branch: unicameral; note - the provision of the
constitution for the establishment of a senate has not been
implemented
National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): elections last held on 5
December 1993 (next to be held by July 1996, according to the
October 1994 Paris Accords; however, President BONGO has indicated
that date might slip); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats
- (120 total) PDG 64, National Recovery Movement - Lumberjacks
(Morena-Bucherons/RNB) 17, PGP 12, National Recovery Movement
(Morena-Original) 2, PUP 4, CLR 1, FAR 4, UPG 1, independents 15
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Political parties and leaders: Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG,
former sole party), Simplice Guedet MANZELA, secretary general;
Circle of Liberal Reformers (CLR), General Jean Boniface ASSELE;
People's Unity Party (PUP), Louis Gaston MAYILA; Gabonese Socialist
Union (USG), Dr. Serge Mba BEKALE; National Recovery Movement -
Lumberjacks (Morena-Bucherons/RNB), Fr. Paul M'BA-ABESSOLE; Gabonese
Party for Progress (PGP), Pierre-Louis AGONDHO-OKAWE, president;
National Recovery Movement (Morena-Origina), note - this party won 2
seats in the 5 December 1993 elections for the National Assembly but
is no longer very active; Gabonese Party for Progress (PGP), Pierre
Louis AGONDJO OKAWE; African Forum for Reconstruction (FAR), Leon
MBOU-YEMBI, secretary general; Gabonese People's Union (UPG), Pierre
MAMBOUNDOU
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC,
CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol,
IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPEC, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO