Читать книгу The 2009 CIA World Factbook - United States. Central Intelligence Agency - Страница 552

Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova

Island (Iles Eparses): claimed by Madagascar

Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): claimed by Mauritius

page last updated on October 28, 2009

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@Gabon (Africa)

Introduction ::Gabon

Background:

Until recently, only two autocratic presidents had ruled Gabon since its independence from France in 1960. The recent president of Gabon, El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba -one of the longest-serving heads of state in the world - had dominated the country's political scene for four decades. President BONGO introduced a nominal multiparty system and a new constitution in the early 1990s. However, allegations of electoral fraud during local elections in 2002–03 and the presidential elections in 2005 exposed the weaknesses of formal political structures in Gabon. President BONGO died in June 2009 and was replaced in accordance with the constitution by Rose Francine ROGOMBE, the president of the Senate. New elections are planned for the summer of 2009. This will be the first Gabonese elections in which BONGO is not participating. Despite political conditions, a small population, abundant natural resources, and considerable foreign support have helped make Gabon one of the more prosperous and stable African countries.

Geography ::Gabon

Location:

Western Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator, between

Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea

Geographic coordinates: