Gabon has followed a non-aligned policy, advocating dialogue in international affairs and recognizing both parts of divided countries. Since 1973, the number of countries establishing diplomatic relations with Gabon has doubled. In inter-African affairs, Gabon espouses development by evolution rather than revolution and favors regulated free enterprise as the system most likely to promote rapid economic growth. Concerned about stability in Central Africa and the potential for intervention, Gabon has been directly involved with mediation efforts in Chad, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Angola, and former Zaire. In December 1999, through the mediation efforts of President Bongo, a peace accord was signed in the Republic of Congo between the government and most leaders of an armed rebellion. President Bongo has remained involved in the continuing Congolese peace process. Gabon has been a strong proponent of regional stability, and Gabonese armed forces played an important role in the UN Peacekeeping Mission to the Central African Republic (MINURCA).
Gabon is a member of the UN and some of its specialized and related agencies, including the World Bank; Organisation of African Unity (OAU); Central African Customs Union (UDEAC/CEMAC); EC association under Lomé Convention; Communaute Financiere Africaine (CFA); Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC); Non-Aligned Movement; Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
Gabon is also a member of the International Criminal Court with a Bilateral Immunity Agreement of protection for the US-military (as covered under Article 98).
List of countries which Gabon maintains diplomatic relations with:
# | Country | Date |
---|---|---|
1 | Japan | 17 August 1960 [1] |
2 | United States | 17 August 1960 [2] |
3 | France | 18 August 1960 [3] |
4 | Belgium | 3 October 1960 [4] |
5 | Israel | 15 November 1960 [5] |
6 | United Kingdom | 9 December 1960 [6] |
7 | Tunisia | 1960 [7] |
8 | Netherlands | 24 August 1961 [8] |
9 | Luxembourg | 1 December 1961 [9] |
10 | Lebanon | 1961 [10] |
11 | Canada | February 1962 [11] |
12 | Germany | 13 April 1962 [12] |
13 | South Korea | 1 October 1962 [13] |
14 | Republic of the Congo | November 1962 [14] |
15 | Turkey | 1 February 1963 [15] |
16 | Italy | 6 February 1963 [16] |
17 | Chad | 3 September 1963 [17] |
18 | Mali | 30 October 1963 [18] |
19 | Sudan | 1963 [19] |
20 | Switzerland | 11 February 1964 [20] |
21 | Spain | 25 February 1964 [21] |
22 | Central African Republic | 26 March 1964 [22] |
23 | Norway | 28 September 1965 [23] |
24 | Burkina Faso | 11 November 1965 [24] |
25 | Sweden | 1965 [25] |
26 | India | 16 July 1966 [26] |
27 | Ivory Coast | 30 December 1966 [27] |
— | Holy See | 31 October 1967 [28] |
28 | Niger | 22 April 1968 [29] |
29 | Togo | 21 June 1968 [30] |
30 | Equatorial Guinea | 1968 [31] |
31 | Benin | 29 October 1969 [32] |
32 | Democratic Republic of Congo | 28 January 1970 [33] |
33 | Austria | 1 April 1970 [34] |
34 | Morocco | 12 July 1972 [35] |
35 | Romania | 21 September 1972 [36] |
36 | Nigeria | 18 January 1973 [37] |
37 | Denmark | 2 April 1973 [38] |
38 | Egypt | 9 April 1973 [39] |
39 | Algeria | 8 September 1973 [40] |
40 | Serbia | 4 October 1973 [41] |
41 | Russia | 15 October 1973 [42] |
42 | Libya | 1 November 1973 [43] |
43 | Brazil | 11 January 1974 [44] |
44 | Argentina | 22 January 1974 [45] |
45 | North Korea | 29 January 1974 [46] |
46 | Saudi Arabia | January 1974 [47] |
47 | Pakistan | February 1974 [48] |
48 | Cuba | 26 March 1974 [49] |
49 | China | 20 April 1974 [50] |
50 | Greece | April 1974 [47] |
51 | Albania | 16 November 1974 [51] |
52 | Iran | 26 November 1974 [52] |
53 | Vietnam | 9 January 1975 [53] |
54 | Portugal | 30 January 1975 [54] |
55 | Cameroon | 26 February 1975 [55] |
56 | Liberia | 17 June 1975 [56] |
57 | Uganda | 4 July 1975 [57] |
58 | Syria | 18 July 1975 [58] |
59 | Zambia | 18 July 1975 [59] |
60 | Kuwait | 27 October 1975 [60] |
61 | Bahrain | 8 November 1975 [61] |
62 | Venezuela | 11 November 1975 [62] |
63 | São Tomé and Príncipe | 1975 [63] |
64 | Mexico | 10 March 1976 [64] |
65 | Thailand | 1 April 1976 [65] |
66 | Bulgaria | 15 May 1976 [66] |
67 | Philippines | 6 July 1976 [67] |
68 | Kenya | 10 July 1976 [68] |
69 | Czech Republic | 4 October 1976 [69] |
70 | Poland | 16 October 1976 [70] |
71 | Burundi | 23 October 1976 [71] |
72 | Guinea | 30 October 1976 [72] |
73 | Bangladesh | 1976 [73] |
74 | Chile | 29 September 1978 [74] |
75 | Angola | 26 April 1979 [75] |
76 | Qatar | 25 November 1979 [76] |
77 | Ecuador | 11 November 1980 [77] |
78 | Oman | 30 March 1981 [77] |
79 | Colombia | 14 July 1981 [78] |
80 | Haiti | 14 October 1981 [79] |
81 | Indonesia | 3 June 1982 [80] |
82 | Uruguay | 14 June 1982 [81] |
83 | Mauritius | August 1983 [82] |
84 | Australia | 20 October 1984 [83] |
85 | Nepal | 17 June 1985 [84] |
86 | Yemen | 21 August 1985 [85] |
87 | Finland | 1 July 1988 [77] |
88 | Cyprus | 21 October 1988 [86] |
89 | Hungary | 24 October 1988 [77] |
— | State of Palestine | 7 April 1989 [87] |
90 | Zimbabwe | 27 August 1990 [88] |
91 | South Africa | 15 October 1992 [89] |
92 | Ukraine | 1 September 1993 [90] |
93 | Lithuania | 3 March 1994 [91] |
94 | Armenia | 9 March 1994 [92] |
95 | Slovakia | 14 July 1994 [93] |
96 | Jamaica | 23 October 1995 [77] |
97 | Azerbaijan | 1 October 1996 [94] |
98 | Latvia | 31 October 1996 [95] |
99 | Seychelles | 14 November 1996 [96] |
100 | Belarus | 5 December 1996 [97] |
101 | Slovenia | 11 December 1996 [98] |
102 | North Macedonia | 13 November 2000 [99] |
103 | Croatia | 22 October 2001 [77] |
104 | Malaysia | 2001 [100] |
105 | Iceland | 27 March 2005 [101] |
106 | Andorra | 28 March 2006 [77] |
107 | Botswana | 21 December 2006 [77] |
108 | Singapore | 6 February 2007 [77] |
109 | Estonia | 13 July 2007 [102] |
110 | Maldives | 20 March 2008 [77] |
111 | Kazakhstan | 23 May 2009 [103] |
112 | Ireland | 15 December 2009 [104] |
113 | Rwanda | 8 October 2010 [105] |
114 | Monaco | 28 March 2011 [106] |
115 | Georgia | 19 September 2011 [77] |
116 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 21 September 2011 [77] |
117 | Montenegro | 12 November 2012 [77] |
118 | Mozambique | 5 December 2012 [107] |
119 | Cape Verde | 7 December 2012 [108] |
— | Kosovo | 19 March 2014 [109] |
120 | Mongolia | 15 September 2014 [77] |
121 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 5 January 2018 [110] |
122 | Dominican Republic | 17 March 2021 [77] |
123 | Sri Lanka | 19 March 2021 [77] |
124 | Gambia | 1 November 2021 [111] |
125 | Nicaragua | 14 June 2021 [77] |
126 | Tuvalu | 24 June 2022 [112] |
127 | Djibouti | 28 November 2022 [113] |
128 | Guatemala | 31 December 2022 [114] |
129 | Dominica | 14 March 2023 [115] |
130 | Peru | 3 August 2023 [116] |
131 | Brunei | Unknown |
132 | Cambodia | Unknown |
133 | Eswatini | Unknown |
134 | Ethiopia | Unknown |
135 | Ghana | Unknown |
136 | Guinea-Bissau | Unknown |
137 | Iraq | Unknown |
138 | Lesotho | Unknown |
139 | Mauritania | Unknown |
140 | Namibia | Unknown |
141 | Senegal | Unknown |
142 | Sierra Leone | Unknown |
143 | South Sudan | Unknown |
144 | Tanzania | Unknown |
145 | United Arab Emirates | Unknown |
Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
---|---|---|
Canada | February 1962 | Both countries established diplomatic relations in February 1962 [117]
|
China | 20 April 1974 | See China–Gabon relations On 20 April 1974, China established diplomatic relations with Gabon. [119]
|
France | 18 August 1960 | See France–Gabon relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 18 August 1960 [120] Since independence, Gabon has been "one of France's closest allies in Africa". [121] As of 2008, around 10,000 French nationals lived and worked in Gabon, while the 6th Marine Infantry Battalion of the French military is also stationed there.
|
India | See Gabon–India relations
| |
Mexico | 10 March 1976 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 10 March 1976 [124] |
Spain | 25 February 1964 | See Gabon–Spain relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 25 February 1964 [127]
|
Turkey | 1 February 1963 | See Gabon–Turkey relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 1 February 1963 when accredited first Ambassador of Turkey to Gabon (resident in Lagos) Mr. Fehmi Nuza. [128] |
United Kingdom | 9 December 1960 | See Foreign relations of the United Kingdom Gabon established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom on 9 December 1960. [130]
Both countries share common membership of the Atlantic co-operation pact, [132] Commonwealth, the International Criminal Court, and the World Trade Organization. |
United States | 17 August 1960 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 17 August 1960 [133] See Gabon–United States relations Relations between the United States and Gabon are excellent. In 1987, President Omar Bongo made an official visit to Washington, DC. In September 2002, Secretary of State Colin Powell made a brief but historic visit to Gabon to highlight environmental protection and conservation in the Central Africa region. This was followed by a visit to the White House by President Bongo in May 2004. The United States imports a considerable percentage of Gabonese crude oil and manganese, and exports heavy construction equipment, aircraft, and machinery to Gabon. Through a modest International Military Education and Training program, the United States provides military training to members of the Gabonese armed forces each year. Other bilateral assistance includes the funding of small grants for qualified democracy and human rights, self-help, and cultural preservation projects. U.S. private capital has been attracted to Gabon since before its independence.
|
Burkina Faso has good relations with the European Union, African and certain Asian countries.
Burundi's relations with its neighbours have often been affected by security concerns. During the Burundian Civil War, hundreds of thousands of Burundian refugees have at various times crossed to neighboring Rwanda, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Some Burundian rebel groups have used neighboring countries as bases for insurgent activities. The 1993 embargo placed on Burundi by regional states hurt diplomatic relations with its neighbors; relations have improved since the 1999 suspension of these sanctions.
The foreign relations of Chad are significantly influenced by the desire for oil revenue and investment in Chadian oil industry and support for former Chadian President Idriss Déby. Chad is officially non-aligned but maintains close relations with France, its former colonial power. Relations with neighbouring countries Libya and Sudan vary periodically. Lately, the Idris Déby regime waged an intermittent proxy war with Sudan. Aside from those two countries, Chad generally enjoys good relations with its neighbouring states.
Cameroon's noncontentious, low-profile approach to foreign relations puts it squarely in the middle of other African and developing country states on major issues. It supports the principles of non-interference in the affairs of third world countries and increased assistance to underdeveloped countries. Cameroon is an active participant in the United Nations, where its voting record demonstrates its commitment to causes that include international peacekeeping, the rule of law, environmental protection, and Third World economic development. In the UN and other human rights fora, Cameroon's non-confrontational approach has generally led it to avoid criticizing other countries.
President François Bozizé has said that one of his priorities is to get the support of the international community. This has indeed been visible in his relations to donor countries and international organisations. At the same time it is difficult to have an open policy towards neighbouring countries when they are used as safe haven by rebels regularly attacking Central African Republic (C.A.R.), or when one allied country is in war with another.
In November 1975, Comoros became the 143rd member of the United Nations. The new nation was defined as consisting of the entire archipelago, despite the fact that France maintains control over Mayotte.
The government's official policy is one of nonalignment. In its search for assistance to meet the goal of national reconstruction, the government of Equatorial Guinea has established diplomatic relations with numerous European and Third World countries. Having achieved independence under UN sponsorship, Equatorial Guinea feels a special kinship with that organization. It became the 126th UN member on November 12, 1968. Equatorial Guinea served as a non-permanent member on the United Nations Security Council from 2017 to 2019.
The foreign relations of Guinea, including those with its West African neighbors, have improved steadily since 1985.
Lesotho's geographic location makes it extremely vulnerable to political and economic developments in South Africa. Its capital is the small city of Maseru. It is a member of many regional economic organizations including the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). Lesotho also is active in the United Nations, the Organisation of African Unity, now the African Union, the Non-Aligned Movement, and many other international organizations. In addition to the Republic of Korea, the United States, South Africa, Ireland, People's Republic of China, Libya, and the European Union all currently retain resident diplomatic missions in Lesotho. Foreign relations of Lesotho are administered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations.
Following independence in 1960, Mali initially followed a socialist path and was aligned ideologically with the communist bloc. Mali's foreign policy orientation became increasingly pragmatic and pro-Western over time. Since the institution of a democratic form of government in 1992, Mali's relations with the West in general and the United States in particular have improved significantly. U.S.-Malian relations are described by the U.S. Department of State as "excellent and expanding," especially given Mali's recent record of democratic stability in the volatile area of West Africa and its avowed support of the war on terrorism. Mali is reported to be one of the largest recipients of U.S. aid in Africa.
Niger pursues a moderate foreign policy and maintains friendly relations with both East and West. It is a member state of the United Nations. Niger maintains a special relationship with France and enjoys close relations with its West African neighbours.
For the two decades preceding the Republic of the Congo's 1991 National Conference, the country was firmly in the socialist camp, allied principally with the Soviet Union and other Eastern bloc nations. Educational, economic, and foreign aid links between Congo and its Eastern bloc allies were extensive, with the Congolese military and security forces receiving significant Soviet, East German, and Cuban assistance.
Rwanda has diplomatic relations with most members of the United Nations and with the Holy See.
Although Togo's foreign policy is nonaligned, it has strong historical and cultural ties with western Europe, especially France and Germany. Togo is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, exchanging high commissioners with other Commonwealth countries. It recognizes the People's Republic of China, North Korea, and Cuba, and re-established relations with Israel in 1987.
Former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali has maintained Tunisia's long-time policy of seeking good relations with the West, while playing an active role in Arab and African regional bodies. President Habib Bourguiba took a nonaligned stance but emphasized close relations with Europe, Pakistan, and the United States.
After seizing power in the 1972 coup d'état, Major Mathieu Kérékou declared the People's Republic of Benin a Marxist-Leninist state and sought financial support from communist governments in Eastern Europe and Asia. To distance the modern state from its colonial past, the country became the People's Republic of Benin in 1975. However, Benin dropped the socialist ideology in 1989 following pressure from creditors and domestic unrest related to economic hardship.
The Republic of Guinea-Bissau follows a nonaligned foreign policy and seeks friendly and cooperative relations with a wide variety of states and organizations. France, Portugal, Angola, Brazil, Egypt, Nigeria, Libya, Cuba, the Palestine Liberation Organization, Ghana, and Russia have diplomatic offices in Bissau.
Throughout the Cold War, Ivory Coast's foreign policy was generally favorable toward the West. In particular, Félix Houphouët-Boigny kept relations with France that was among the closest between any African country and a former colonial power. The country became a member of the United Nations at independence in 1960 and participates in most of its specialized agencies. It is also an associate member of the European Union. In general, President Bédié initiated and maintained relations with many countries of the European Union and Asia. Ivory Coast maintains a wide variety of diplomatic contacts.
Democratic Republic of Congo formerly known as Zaire is a country located in central Africa. Its the second largest country in Africa and 11th in the world.
Foreign relations of Djibouti are managed by the Djiboutian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Djibouti maintains close ties with the governments of Somalia, Ethiopia, France and the United States. It is likewise an active participant in African Union, United Nations, Non-Aligned Movement, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and Arab League affairs.
Gabon et le Congo établirent des relations diplomatiques en novembre 1962 ...
3 septembre. — M. Gandion, représentant du Tchad au Gabon, présente ses lettres de créances à M. Léon M'Ba.
M. Abdoul Thierno Diallo, ambassadeur du Mali au Gabon, résidant à Léopoldville, a présenté ses lettres de créance au Président Mba.
M. Clément Sevot, ambassadeur de la R.C.A. au Gabon, avec résidence à Yaoundé, a présenté ses lettres de créance au president Mba
GABON Sändebud Malm, Dag Einar Jonas [ se Kongo Léopoldville ], 65 .
Un accord est intervenu entre l'Inde et le Gabon pour l'établissement de relations diplomatiques au niveau d'ambassades entre les deux pays ...
Le Gabon et la Guinée Equatoriale ont décidé d'établir des relations diplomatiques au niveau des ambassades
El 29 de septiembre de 1978 se establecieron, en la ciudad de París, relaciones diplomáticas, a nivel de Embajadas, entre las Repúblicas de Chile y Gabón ...
... President Vassiliou said October 21, during the cremony of accreditation of the new ambassadors of Uruguay and Gabon ... Jules Marius Ogowebandja, the ambassador of Gabon