Line #6 UsefulNotes/Gabon


1	[[quoteright:328:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/gabon_sm_2015.gif]]
2
3	The Gabonese Republic ('''French:''' ''République gabonaise'') is a country in Central UsefulNotes/{{Africa}}, bordering the Gulf of Guinea to its west. Most of the country lies in the equatorial rainforest zone (the equator itself in fact crosses the northern part of the country).
4
5	Like other coastal Central African countries, it was the original home of the pygmies, who were mostly driven out when the Bantus started their expansion from somewhere in northwestern UsefulNotes/{{Cameroon}}/southeastern UsefulNotes/{{Nigeria}}, though remnants of them still settle here and there. The Bantus built up various kingdoms and polities until the Europeans came in the 15th century. The Portuguese, the first Europeans who came to this region, named the region "Gabão", meaning "cloak", which is what the estuary of a river near Libreville looks like; it was later Frenchified into "Gabon".
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7	The French presided over the colony until 1960, when it granted the country independence under president Léon M'ba. M'ba was autocratic and authoritarian, banning press, opposition, and the like, with the utmost support of the French. When he died seven years after independence, his vice-president, Omar Bongo Ondimba, continued his legacy in an even more unbelievable and longer way. Consider this: Bongo took up the spot in 1967, and he died while still reigning as president in 2009. He was president for [[LongRunner 41 years]], making him, at the time, the longest reigning non-monarch head of state in the world. (His record has since been broken by Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of UsefulNotes/EquatorialGuinea, who is ruling for 44 years and counting as of 2023.) Upon Bongo's death, [[HereditaryRepublic his son Ali succeeded him]], ruling until he was deposed by a MilitaryCoup in 2023.
8
9	Political problems aside, Gabon is considered one of Africa's best performing countries. After Equatorial Guinea, it has mainland Africa's highest GDP per capita, thanks to its abundant oil wealth, which is its primary exporting content. However, the wealth hasn't been distributed equally, and a significant portion of the population still live below the poverty line. The drop in oil prices since the 2000s has also forced Gabon to begin seeking alternatives in exports.
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11	!! Relevant works:
12
13	* Myth/BetiPahuinMythology
14	----
15	[[AC: The Gabonese Flag]]
16	https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/flag_of_gabonsvg.png
17	-> The horizontal tricolor of Gabon's flag is unlike other former French colonies in sub-Saharan Africa, which model themselves after the vertical tricolor of the French flag. The green represents the lush vegetation and rainforest that cover much of Gabon's area, the yellow represents the sun and the equator that crosses the country, and the blue represents the Atlantic Ocean. The flag notably uses the 3:4 proportion, which is only used by two other flags in the world: Papua New Guinea and San Marino.
18	----
19	[[AC:The Gabonese national anthem]]
20
21	->Uni dans la Concorde et la fraternité
22	->Éveille-toi Gabon, une aurore se lève,
23	->Encourage l'ardeur qui vibre et nous soulève!
24	->C'est enfin notre essor vers la félicité.
25	->C'est enfin notre essor vers la félicité.
26
27	->Éblouissant et fier, le jour sublime monte
28	->Pourchassant à jamais l'injustice et la honte.
29	->Qu'il monte, monte encore et calme nos alarmes,
30	->Qu'il prône la vertu et repousse les armes.
31
32	->Uni dans la Concorde et la fraternité
33	->Éveille-toi Gabon, une aurore se lève,
34	->Encourage l'ardeur qui vibre et nous soulève!
35	->C'est enfin notre essor vers la félicité.
36	->C'est enfin notre essor vers la félicité.
37
38	->Oui que le temps heureux rêvé par nos ancêtres
39	->Arrive enfin chez nous, réjouisse les êtres,
40	->Et chasse les sorciers, ces perfides trompeurs.
41	->Qui semaient le poison et répandaient la peur.
42
43	->Uni dans la Concorde et la fraternité
44	->Éveille-toi Gabon, une aurore se lève,
45	->Encourage l'ardeur qui vibre et nous soulève!
46	->C'est enfin notre essor vers la félicité.
47	->C'est enfin notre essor vers la félicité.
48
49	->Afin qu'aux yeux du monde et des nations amies
50	->Le Gabon immortel reste digne d'envie,
51	->Oublions nos querelles, ensemble bâtissons
52	->L'édifice nouveau auquel tous nous rêvons.
53
54	->Uni dans la Concorde et la fraternité
55	->Éveille-toi Gabon, une aurore se lève,
56	->Encourage l'ardeur qui vibre et nous soulève!
57	->C'est enfin notre essor vers la félicité.
58	->C'est enfin notre essor vers la félicité.
59
60	->Des bords de l'Océan au cœur de la forêt,
61	->Demeurons vigilants, sans faiblesse et sans haine!
62	->Autour de ce drapeau, qui vers l'honneur nous mène,
63	->Saluons la Patrie et chantons sans arrêt!
64
65	->Uni dans la Concorde et la fraternité
66	->Éveille-toi Gabon, une aurore se lève,
67	->Encourage l'ardeur qui vibre et nous soulève!
68	->C'est enfin notre essor vers la félicité.
69	->C'est enfin notre essor vers la félicité.
70
71	--
72
73	->United in the concord and the brotherhood,
74	->Awake, Gabon, dawn is at hand.
75	->Stir up the spirit that thrills and inspires us!
76	->At last we rise up to attain happiness.
77	->At last we rise up to attain happiness.
78
79	->Dazzling and proud, the sublime day dawns,
80	->Dispelling for ever injustice and shame.
81	->May it rise, rise again and calm our fears,
82	->May it promote virtue and banish warfare.
83
84	->United in the concord and the brotherhood,
85	->Awake, Gabon, dawn is at hand.
86	->Stir up the spirit that thrills and inspires us!
87	->At last we rise up to attain happiness.
88	->At last we rise up to attain happiness.
89
90	->Yes, may the happy days dreamed by our ancestors
91	->Come for us at last, rejoice our hearts,
92	->And banish the sorcerers, those perfidious deceivers
93	->Who were sowing poison and were spreading fear.
94
95	->United in the concord and the brotherhood,
96	->Awake, Gabon, dawn is at hand.
97	->Stir up the spirit that thrills and inspires us!
98	->At last we rise up to attain happiness.
99	->At last we rise up to attain happiness.
100
101	->So that, in the eyes of the world and of friendly nations,
102	->The immortal Gabon may maintain her good repute,
103	->Let us forget our quarrels, let us build together
104	->The new structure of which we are all dreaming of
105
106	->United in the concord and the brotherhood,
107	->Awake, Gabon, dawn is at hand.
108	->Stir up the spirit that thrills and inspires us!
109	->At last we rise up to attain happiness.
110	->At last we rise up to attain happiness.
111
112	->From the shores of the Ocean to the heart of the forest,
113	->Let us remain vigilant, without weakness and without hatred!
114	->Around this flag which leads us to honour,
115	->Let us salute the Fatherland and ever sing!
116
117	->United in the concord and the brotherhood,
118	->Awake, Gabon, dawn is at hand.
119	->Stir up the spirit that thrills and inspires us!
120	->At last we rise up to attain happiness.
121	->At last we rise up to attain happiness.
122	----
123	[[AC:Government]]
124	* Unitary dominant-party presidential republic under a military junta
125	** President: Brice Oligui Nguema
126	----
127	[[AC:Miscellaneous]]
128	* '''Capital and largest city:''' Libreville
129	* '''Population:''' 2,119,275
130	* '''Area:''' 267,667 km
131	(103,347 sq mi) (76th)
132	* '''Currency''': Central African CFA franc (FCFA) (XAF)
133	* '''ISO-3166-1 Code:''' GA
134	* '''Country calling code:''' 241
135	* '''Highest point:''' Mont Bengoué (1070 m/3,510 ft) (154th)

Context UsefulNotes / Gabon