2013 Event Africa, Europe and the United States experience a rare solar eclipse, with the west African nation of Gabon enjoying peak viewing when the total eclipse sweeps across a path nearly 60 kilometers wide 1993 Event Zambian plane crashes at Libreville, Gabon, 30 soccer players die 1975 Event Gabon amends constitution 1967 Death Leon Mba, 1st president of Gabon (1960-67), dies 1961 Event Gabon adopts constitution 1960 Event Gabon gains independence from France, National Day 1959 Event Gabon adopts its constitution 1935 Birthday Omar Bongo, born in Lewai, French Equatorial Africa, now Bongoville, Gabon, El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba, Albert-Bernard Bongo, statesman, Gabonese Democratic Party, President of Gabon at age 31 1905 Event Pierre de Brazza lands in Libreville Gabon 1903 Event French Equatorial Africa separates into Gabon, Chad and Ubangi-Shari
