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OVERALL PROGRESS
Context
Gabon is located on the west coast of Central Africa, bordered by the Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and the Gulf of Guinea. It is one of the least densely populated countries in the world. More than 70 percent of the total population live in the coastal areas, which are also home to the majority of economic activities. Gabon is rich in extractive natural resources, mainly manganese, oil, and its timber and forest reserves. Abundant oil, foreign private investment, and low population density have helped make the country one of the most prosperous in sub-Saharan Africa, with the third highest GDP per capita in the region. Gabon has the highest human development indices in sub-Saharan Africa.
However, despite abundant natural resources, Gabon is dependent on imports of food and capital goods and is lacking infrastructure (transport and electricity). It is also facing high unemployment rates, endemic poverty, poor wealth distribution, and has an informal economy (estimated at between 40 percent and 50 percent of GDP).
In February 2023, an outbreak of Marburg disease in neighbouring Equatorial Guinea raised a risk for Gabon, and lead the authorities to take preventative measures.
In Gabon, the rainy season generally lasts from October to end May, early June, depending on climatic variations.
Torrential rains in Gabon are slanting and heavy, generally accompanied by landslides and/or violent winds throughout the rainy season. On Monday 15 May 2023, torrential rain accompanied by violent winds hit Franceville, the chief town of the Haut Ogooué Province in Gabon, causing extensive damage. The damage affected a large number of families, as well as public and private infrastructures, destroying schools, shops and electricity poles.