The Berlin Conference of 1885 solidified France's claim to the territory through diplomatic recognition,[1] and it later became part of French Equatorial Africa in 1910.

[2] Gabon – considered "one of the more progressive" of French colonies – swiftly formulated a design for a new flag, which was officially adopted a year later in 1959.

[3][4] It featured a horizontal tricolour identical to the current flag,[4] but with the yellow stripe at the centre narrower than the green and blue bands surrounding it.

The change entailed removing the Tricolour at the canton and enlarging the yellow stripe at the centre, thus giving it equal width with the two other bands.

[7] The green epitomizes the natural resources of Gabon, as well as its "extensive forested area" that the Gabonese people are economically dependent on in the form of lumber.