Embassy/Consulate Addresses | Foreign Relations | Travel Advisories | Travel Tips | Customs/Duties



EMBASSY/CONSULATE ADDRESSES

Diplomatic Representation in US:
Ambassador: Carlos Victor Boungou
Embassy: 2034 20th St., NW, Washington, DC 20009, Suite 200
Telephone: [1] (202) 797-1000
FAX: (202) 332-0668

US Diplomatic Representation:
Ambassador: Eric Benjaminson
Embassy: Boulevard de la Mer, Libreville
Mailing address: B. P. 4000, Libreville
Telephone: [241] 76-20-03, (after hours) 74-34-92
Fax: [241] 74-55-07

Consulate(s) are in:
New York
18 E. 41st St., 9th Floor,
New York, NY 10017.
(212) 686-9720

Gabonese Embassies and Consulates around the World

Algeria
BP 125
Rostamia, Alger
Tel: (213) 69 24 00
Fax: (213) 69 25 46

Angola
Avenida 4 de Fevereiro
Caixa Postal 1614
Luanda
Tel: (244-2) 33 14 33

Belgium
112 Avenue W. Churchill
1180 Brussels
Tel: (32-2) 343 0055
Fax: (32-2) 346 4669

Brazil
Shis Qi 09, Conjunto II, Casa 24, Lagosul
Brasilia DF
Tel: (55-61) 248 3533

Cameroon
BP 4130
Yaoundé
Tel: (237) 20 29 66

Canada
4 Range Road
PO Box 368
Ottawa, Ontario K1N 8J5
Tel: (613) 232-5301
Fax: (613) 232-6916

China
36 Guang Hua Lu
Beijing
Tel: (86-10) 532 2810
Fax: (86-10) 532 2621

Congo - Brazzaville
BP 2033
Brazzaville
Tel: (242) 83 26 19
Fax: (242) 83 30 74

Congo - Kinshasa
Avenue du 24 Novembre
BP 9592
Kinshasa
Tel: (243-12) 68 325

Côte d'Ivoire
Immeuble Heveas
BP 3765
Abidjan 01
Tel: (225) 44 51 54
Fax: (225) 44 75 05

Egypt
17 Rue Maka El Moukarama
BP 2547, Dokki
Cairo
Tel: (20-2) 70 96 99
Fax: (20-2) 360 3796

Equatorial Guinea
BP 18
Malabo
Tel: (240-9) 31 80
Fax: (240-9) 31 80
11, Calle de Bata
BP 284
Bata
Tel: (240-8) 20 66

Ethiopia
Bole Road H-17, House 269
Addis Ababa
Tel: (251-1) 61 10 75
Fax: (251-1) 61 37 00

France
26 bis, Avenue Raphael
75016 Paris
Tel: (33-1) 42 24 79 60
Fax: (33-1) 42 24 62 42

Geneva, Switzerland
Mission Permanente du Gabon auprès des O.I.7
bis, Rui Henri Veyrassat
1202 Geneva
Tel: (41-22) 345 7217
Fax: (41-22) 340 2309

Germany
Kronprinzenter 52
53173 Bonn
Tel: (49-228) 36 58 44
Fax: (49-228) 35 91 95

Italy
Via del Pozzetto 122
00187 Rome
Tel: (39-6) 699 0096
Fax: (39-6) 699 0094

Japan
1-12-11 Kami-Osaki, Shinagawa-KM
Tokyo 141
Tel: (81-3) 3448 9540
Fax: (81-3) 3448 1596

Korea, South
Yao-Sung Building 4F, 738-20 Hannam Dong
Yongsan-Ku
Seoul
Tel: (82-2) 793 9575
Fax: (82-2) 793 9574

Morocco
Km 3,500, Route des Zaers
BP 1239
Rabat
Tel: (212-7) 75 19 50
Fax: (212-7) 75 75 50

Nigeria
8 Norman William Street
PO Box 5989
Lagos
Tel: (234-1) 68 45 66
Fax: (234-1) 269 0692

Russia
16 Vesnina Street
Moscow 121002
Tel: (7-095) 241 0080
Fax: (7-095) 244 0694

Sao Tome e Principe
4 Avenida das Nacoes Unidas
Caixa Postal 157
Sao Tome
Tel: (239) 21 04 43

Senegal
Km 5, Route de Ouakam
BP 436
Dakar
Tel: (221) 24 09 95
Fax: (221) 25 98 26

South Africa
Southern Life Plaza Building, 1st Floor, Centre Schoeman / Festival Street
Hatfield 0083
Pretoria
Tel: (27-11) 342 4376
Fax: (27-11) 342 4375

Spain
C/Angel de Diego Roldan No. 14-16
Madrid 28016
Tel: (34-1) 413 8211
Fax: (34-1) 413 1153

Togo
BP 9118
Lomé
Tel: (228) 21 53 63
Fax: (228) 83 30 74

United Kingdom
27 Elvaston Place
London SW7 5NL
Tel: (44-171) 823-9986
Fax: (44-171) 584-0047

United Nations
18 East 41 Street, 9th Floor
New York, NY 10017
Tel: (212) 686-9720
Fax: (212) 689-5769

Embassy and Consulate Web Sites for Gabon

U.S. Embassy Web Site in Gabon
Embassy of Gabon in Washington DC


FOREIGN RELATIONS

Since independence, Gabon has followed a nonaligned policy, advocating dialogue in international affairs and recognizing each side of divided countries. 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.

Gabon played an important leadership role in the stability of Central Africa through involvement in mediation efforts in Chad, the Central African Republic, Angola, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (D.R.C.), and Burundi. In December 1999, through the mediation efforts of President Bongo, a peace accord was signed in the Republic of the Congo (Brazzaville) between the government and most leaders of an armed rebellion. President Bongo was also involved in the continuing D.R.C. peace process, and played a role in mediating the crisis in Cote d'Ivoire. Gabonese armed forces were also an integral part of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) mission to the Central African Republic.

Gabon is a member of the United Nations (UN) and some of its specialized and related agencies, as well as of the World Bank; the IMF; the African Union (AU); the Central African Customs Union/Central African Economic and Monetary Community (UDEAC/CEMAC); EU/ACP association under the Cotonou Agreement; the Communaute Financiere Africaine (CFA); the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC); the Nonaligned Movement; and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS/CEEAC), among others. In 1995, Gabon withdrew from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Gabon was elected to a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for January 2010 through December 2011 and held the rotating presidency in March 2010.

U.S.-GABONESE RELATIONS
Relations between the United States and Gabon are excellent. In 1987, President 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. On March 8, 2010 President Bongo Ondimba met with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Washington, DC. On June 9, 2011 President Bongo Ondimba was received by President Barack Obama. President Obama urged President Bongo Ondimba to take bold steps to root out corruption and to reform the judiciary and other key institutions to ensure the protection of human rights, and he welcomed the reforms that Gabon has taken under President Bongo Ondimba to bring more transparency and accountability to government.

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. In May 2009, the USS Nashville conducted a mission to help train Gabonese naval officers in maritime security, and a robust bilateral training schedule was planned for 2010. 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.

DEFENSE
Gabon has a small, professional military of about 8,000 personnel, divided into army, navy, air force, gendarmerie, and national police. Gabonese forces are oriented to the defense of the country and have not been trained for an offensive role. A well-trained, well-equipped 1,500-member Presidential Guard provides security for the president. French troops also remain stationed in the country.

Principal U.S. Officials
Ambassador--Eric Benjaminson
Deputy Chief of Mission--Kathleen FitzGibbon
Management Officer--Judith Johnson
Public Affairs/Economic/Commercial Officer--Dolores Canavan
Political Officer--Christopher Gunning
Defense Attache--Jack Aalborg
Consular Officer--Amanda Tyson
Regional Security Officer--Tom Eckert

The U.S. Embassy is located on the Blvd. de la Mer, B.P. 4000, Libreville, Gabon (tel: 241-762-003/004; fax: 241-745-507).


TRAVEL ADVISORIES

To obtain the latest Travel Advisory Information for Gabon check the U.S. State Department Consular Information Sheet.


TRAVEL TIPS

Driving U.S Driving Permit accepted
Currency (XAF) Africaine Franc
Electrical 220 Volts
Telephones Country Code 241, City Code Libreville 44+4D, Port Gentil 55+4D, Lastourville 64+4D, Kango 400+3D



Time: GMT + 1.

Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz.

Telephone: IDD is available. Country code: 241. No area codes required. Outgoing international code: 00.

Climate: Equatorial with high humidity. The dry season is from June to August, and the main rainy season is from October to May.

Required clothing: Lightweight tropical, with raincoats advised during the rainy season.

Food & Drink: Most hotels and restaurants serve French and continental-style food and are expensive. Gabonese food is distinctive and delicious, but not always readily available, as most restaurants serve Senegalese, Cameroonian and Congolese food.
Licensing hours are similar to those in France.

Nightlife: There are nightclubs in Libreville with music and bars. Food is often served, although this can be expensive. There are also casinos at several hotels.

Shopping: In Libreville there are two bustling markets at Akebe-Plaine, Nkembo and Mon-Bouet. Stone carvings can be bought on the outskirts of both, fashioned by a group of carvers who have adapted traditional skills for the tourist market. Crafts from local villages can also be bought from stalls in the streets or from the villagers themselves. African (Fang) mask carvings, figurines, clay pots and traditional musical instruments can also be bought. Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 0800-1200 and 1500-1900. Some shops close Monday.

Currency: CFA (Communauté Financiaire Africaine) Franc (CFAfr) = 100 centimes. Notes are in denominations of CFAfr10,000, 5000, 2000, 1000 and 500. Coins are in denominations of CFAfr250, 100, 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1. Cameroon is part of the French Monetary Area. Only currency issued by the Banque des Etats de l’Afrique Centrale (Bank of Central African States) is valid; currency issued by the Banque des Etats de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (Bank of West African States) is not. The CFA Franc is tied to the Euro.

Currency exchange: Gabon is part of the French Monetary Area. Only currency issued by the Banque des Etats de l’Afrique Centrale (Bank of Central African States) is valid; currency issued by the Banque des Etats de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (Bank of West African States) is not. The CFA Franc is tied to the Euro.

Credit & debit cards: Limited use of Visa, American Express and MasterCard. In general, the use of credit cards in Gabon remains relatively limited. Check with your credit or debit card company for merchant acceptability and other facilities which may be available.

Tipping: 10 to 15 per cent unless service is included in the bill.


CUSTOMS/DUTIES

Currency...........No restrictions

Tobacco............200 cigarettes/cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco

Liquor...............2 litres of alcoholic beverages

Perfume...........50 grams of perfume

Cameras...........No restrictions

Film..................Reasonable for personal use

Agriculture items...Refer to consulate

Gifts..................Up to a value of CFAFR5000

Controlled items: Guns and ammunition require a licence from the Ministry of Home Affairs in Libreville.



Back to Top