Gabon has a population of about 1.2 million people. The majority of the population is composed of Bantu tribes including four major tribal groupings (Fang, Eshira, Bapounou, Bateke). There are about 154,000 other Africans and Europeans , including 10,700 French and 11,000 persons of dual nationality. The nation is 55-75 percent Christian. Animism is widely believed in and practiced. Government statistics number the Muslim population at one percent, but including non-citizens, as many as 12% of the people living in the country may be practicing Muslims. In addition the current President is a Muslim.
According to the constitution, liberty of conscience and the free practice of religion shall be guaranteed to all,
provided that "public order is maintained." The right to form associations or societies, establishments
in the social interest and religious communities shall be guaranteed to everyone, within the conditions established
by law. Religious communities shall regulate and administer their affairs independently, with the reservation of
respecting the principles of national sovereignty and public order.
All acts of racial, ethnic or religious discrimination, as well as all regionalist propaganda capable of threatening
the internal security of the state or the territorial integrity of the Republic, shall be punished by law.
The government generally respects the rights of religious freedom afforded in
the Constitution. The government banned the Jehovah's Witnesses in 1983. The ban
remains in effect but apparently is not enforced. The government encourages religious
groups to register although it does not require it. Some Protestant groups have
claimed that the government favors Roman Catholics and Muslims in hiring and
promotion in the military and also have complained that the Catholic Church
receives free air time on television while Protestant churches do not.
2003 U.S. State
Department International Religious Freedom Report on Gabon
The Oslo Coalition on Freedom of Religion or Belief report on Gabon
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