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| 7. Gabon |
| 1957 |
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| Formerly part of French Equatorial Africa, Gabon gained internal autonomy. | 1 |
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| 1958, Nov |
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| The country gained self-government within the French Community, under the leadership of Léon M'Ba, leader of the Bloc Démocratique Gabonaise. | 2 |
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| 1960, Aug. 7 |
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| Gabon became independent. | 3 |
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| 1961, Feb |
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| M'Ba was elected president. | 4 |
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| 1964, Feb |
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| Five days before scheduled elections, M'Ba was overthrown by a military coup staged by supporters of his rival, Jean-Hilaire Aubame. The French military immediately intervened and restored M'Ba to power. | 5 |
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| 1967, Feb |
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| In failing health, M'Ba was reelected president, with Albert-Bernard Bongo as vice president. | 6 |
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| Nov |
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| M'Ba died, and Bongo succeeded as president. | 7 |
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