SUMMARY

[Note to reader: this Country page primarily contains brief information about state-based violence during the period 1946-1974, and to some extent 1975-1988. For more detailed information on organized violence after 1989, please consult the specific Conflict and Dyad pages available on the left-hand side of this page. These pages contain (when applicable) more detailed information regarding all three categories of organized violence in this country from 1989 and onwards, as well as detailed information about state-based violence 1975-1988. The left-hand side menu also contains links to Actor pages for all groups involved in organized violence since 1989 in this country, as well as actors involved in state-based violence 1975-1988.]

Gabon, formerly a part of French Equatorial Africa, became independent from France in 1960. Two political parties were created before independence, the UDSG (Union démocratique et sociale gabonaise, Gabonese Democratic and Social Union), headed by Jean Hilaire Aubame, and the BDG (Bloc démocratique gabonais, Gabonese Democratic Bloc), led by Léon M’Ba. M’Ba was elected president of newly independent Gabon and Aubame’s UDSG became the junior partner in governmental affairs having some ministers in cabinet. However, the relations between M’Ba and the UDSG deteriorated and the former removed the UDSG ministers from power. When M’Ba dissolved the National Assembly in January 1964, young officers of the Gabonese army staged a bloodless coup on 17 February 1964 and installed the UDSG leader Aubame as president of a provisional government. Three days later French troops entered Gabon in support of M’Ba. A short intrastate armed conflict ensued and with the help of the French M’Ba restored his power. M’Ba was re-elected in 1967, but died soon. He was succeeded by Omar Bongo, who kept his hold on power into the 21st century.

Since 1946 Gabon has experienced the intrastate category of UCDP organised violence.