Official name

République Gabonaise

Form of state

Unitary republic

Legal system

Based on the constitution of March 1991, amended by the National Assembly in 2003 to remove the restriction on the number of terms that a president may serve

National legislature

The National Assembly (the lower chamber) has 120 members, who are elected for five years by universal adult suffrage; the Senate (the upper chamber) has 91 members, who are elected for six years by municipal and regional councillors

National elections

December 2006 (legislative) and August 2009 (presidential); next legislative election due in 2011 and next presidential election in 2016

Head of state

Ali Bongo Ondimba was elected president in late August 2009 and was sworn in to office in mid-October following a recount of votes

National government

The government is led by the prime minister and an appointed Council of Ministers

Main political parties

Parti démocratique gabonais (PDG, the ruling party); Union nationale (UN, dissolved in February 2011); Union du peuple gabonais (UPG); Parti gabonais du progrès (PGP); Rassemblement pour le Gabon (RPG; formerly Rassemblement national des bûcherons); Parti social démocrate (PSD); Union gabonaise pour la démocratie et le développement (UGDD); Alliance démocratique et républicaine (Adere); Cercle des libéraux réformateurs (CLR)

Prime minister: Paul Biyoghé Mba

Key ministers

Agriculture, livestock & rural development: Raymond Ndong Sima

Budget, state reform & civil service: Emmanuel Issozet Ngondet

Communications, post & the digital economy: Laure Olga Gondjout

Defence: Ruffin Pacôme Ondzounga

Economy, trade, industry & tourism: Magloire Ngambia

Education: Séraphin Moundounga

Energy & hydro resources: Régis Immongault

Equipment, public works & infrastructure: Léon Nzouba

Foreign affairs: Paul Toungui

Health, social affairs, national solidarity & family: Flavien Nzengui Nzoundou

Housing, urbanisation & sustainable development: Blaise Louembé

Interior, public security, immigration & decentralisation: Jean-François Ndongou

Justice: Ida Réteno Assonouet

Labour, employment & welfare: Angélique Ngoma

Mines, oil & hydrocarbons: Alexandre Barro Chanbrier

Small & medium-sized businesses & crafts: Jean-Félix Mouloungui

Transport: Julien Nkoghé Bekalé

Water & forestry: Christian Magnagna

Central bank governor

Lucas Abaga Nchama