Published on 1 February 2026

Bilateral relations Switzerland–Gabon

Relations between Switzerland and the Gabonese Republic are good but not well developed.

Key aspects of diplomatic relations

Switzerland has set out a strategy for sub-Saharan Africa for 2021–24.

The Swiss embassy in Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of the Congo) represents Swiss interests in the Gabonese Republic. The Gabonese Republic has a permanent representation in Geneva that is also accredited as an embassy in Switzerland.

Treaty database

Economic cooperation

Economic and trade relations between the two countries are very limited in scope.

Trade promotion Switzerland Global Enterprise SGE

Cooperation in education, research and innovation

Researchers who are citizens of Gabon can apply to the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships.

Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for Foreign Scholars and Artists (SERI)

Swiss citizens in Gabon

According to statistics on the Swiss abroad, 24 Swiss citizens were living in Gabon at the end of 2020 and 105 Gabonese citizens were living in Switzerland.

History of bilateral relations

At the beginning of the 20th century, many Swiss citizens emigrated to Gabon to work in the timber industry, in trade, or at the hospital of “bush doctor” Albert Schweitzer in Lambaréné.

Switzerland recognised the independence of the former French colony in 1960. Until the early 1970s, trade relations between Switzerland and Gabon were governed by the Franco-Swiss agreements of 1955 and 1967. In 1972, the two countries concluded a bilateral agreement on trade, investment protection, and technical and scientific cooperation.

Gabon, Historical Dictionary of Switzerland (de, fr, it)

Diplomatic documents of Switzerland, Dodis

Documents

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