Relationship dossier
Gabon
Western Sahara
Relationship assessment
Gabon shifted from recognizing the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic to supporting Morocco's position on Western Sahara.
Gabon toward Western Sahara
-40Gabon withdrew its recognition of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic in 1997 and opened a consulate in Laayoune in 2020, supporting Morocco's position on Western Sahara.
Western Sahara toward Gabon
Not assessedOverall relationship
Not assessedHow to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Gabon recognized the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic before withdrawing recognition in 1997. In 2020, Gabon opened a consulate in Laayoune, a city in Western Sahara administered by Morocco, signaling support for Morocco's position on the territory. Information about the Sahrawi authorities' government policy toward Gabon is insufficient to assess that aspect of the relationship.
Areas of tension
- Gabon’s support for Morocco’s position on Western Sahara conflicts with the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic’s claim to sovereignty.
Key developments
Gabon withdrew its recognition of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.
Gabon opened a consulate in Laayoune, signaling support for Morocco's position on Western Sahara.
Major uncertainties
- The scope of any direct cooperation between Gabon and the Sahrawi authorities is unclear.
- The Sahrawi authorities' response to Gabon's withdrawal of recognition and later consulate opening is unclear.