consists of the Senate
(91 seats) and the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (120
seats); members are elected by direct popular vote to serve
five-year terms
elections: National Assembly--last held in December 1996 (next to be
held NA December 2001); Senate--last held 12 January 1997 (next to be
held in January 2002)
election results: National Assembly--percent of vote by party--NA;
seats by party--PDG 100, Morena-Bucherons/RNB 8, PUP 3, CLR 3, FAR 1,
UPG 1, USG 2, PGP 2; Senate--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by
party--PDG 51, RNB 17, PGP 4, ADERE 3, RDP 1, others 15

Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme consisting of
three chambers--Judicial, Administrative, and Accounts;
Constitutional Court; Courts of Appeal; Court of State Security;
County Courts

Political parties and leaders: African Forum for Reconstruction
NA]

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC,
CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA,
IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (associate), ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MINURCA, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UDEAC,
UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Paul BOUNDOUKOU-LATHA
chancery: Suite 200, 2034 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
consulate(s): New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador James V. LEDESMA
embassy: Boulevard de la Mer, Libreville
mailing address: B. P. 4000, Libreville

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top),
yellow, and blue

Economy

Economy--overview: Gabon enjoys a per capita income four times
that of most nations of sub-Saharan Africa. This has supported a
sharp decline in extreme poverty; yet because of high income
inequality a large proportion of the population remains poor. Gabon
depended on timber and manganese until oil was discovered offshore
in the early 1970s. The oil sector now accounts for 50% of GDP.
Gabon continues to face fluctuating prices for its oil, timber,
manganese, and uranium exports. Despite the abundance of natural
wealth, the economy is hobbled by poor fiscal management. In 1992,
the fiscal deficit widened to 2.4% of GDP, and Gabon failed to
settle arrears on its bilateral debt, leading to a cancellation of
resched