https://www.interieur.gouv.ga/9-actualites/555-protection-civile/
Gabon is a country located in the Congo-Basin region of Central-West Africa, home to approximately 2.2 million people.1 With one of the highest urbanization levels in Africa, over 80% of Gabon’s population resides in urban spaces. Despite its abundant natural resources, the country grapples with entrenched poverty and stark economic disparities. In rural areas, over 50% of residents live in poverty, and their poverty is three times more severe than that of the urban poor.2 The climate of Gabon is characterized by its tropical nature, with high humidity and abundant rainfall nurturing its rainforests and diverse ecosystems. Gabon’s economy is largely driven by the extraction and export of natural resources, notably oil, timber, and minerals, which contribute significantly to its GDP and employment landscape3 , with oil attributing to 51 percent of the GDP 2022, up from 38.5 percent in 2021.4 It is the fifth largest oil producer in Africa and the second-largest manganese producer in the world, mining an estimated 4.6 million metric tons of the metal in 2022.5 Gabon reports one of the most developed economies in sub-Saharan Africa, and is a high-income country with a GDP per capita of 8,820.35 USD (2022)6 , yet the World Bank estimates that only 60% of Gabon’s population has access to electricity. However, the reliance on extractive industries poses inherent risks for Gabon’s current environmental sustainability and economic stability. Today, Gabon’s narrative is intertwined with the scars of French colonial exploitation, largely shaping its political economy. Gabon’s independence was contingent upon signing cooperation agreements with France, leaving the extractive relationship of the colonial era largely unchanged. This relationship would fortify the future of Gabon’s economic and ecological future.
Gabon has a high degree of risk to natural hazards and is highly vulnerable to climate change impacts by way of seasonal flooding, extreme winds and landslides. Coastal regions and low-lying areas, where 75% of the population resides7 , face escalating risks from rising sea levels and intensified weather phenomena, namely the Ogooué-Ivindo and Moyen-Ogooué provinces. The port city of Port-Gentil is an economic hub for Gabon, home to its petroleum industry. It is one of several cities around the world at risk of disappearing underwater by 2050 at the current rate of rising sea levels8 , a reality that would displace over 100,000 residents. In recent decades, the frequency and severity of climate-related disasters have surged, leading to displacement and livelihood disruptions. Since 2008, the small nation has reported 5,100 climate-induced displaced persons.9 In May 2023, Franceville, the principal town of Haut Ogooué Province in Gabon, experienced severe rainfall and strong winds, resulting in significant destruction to public and private infrastructure, including schools, shops, and electricity poles. Nearly 200 homes were either destroyed or carried away by the force of the accompanying winds, and approximately 3,000 individuals overall, equivalent to 500 households, were affected by the event.10 Limited resources and infrastructure exacerbate the plight of those displaced, further underscoring the need for robust adaptation and resilience-building measures.