Langgam Pos - As August begins, Indonesians associate it with the celebration of Independence Day, commemorating the country's 79th year of independence on August 17. This year, the festivities are planned to take place in IKN Nusantara, a departure from the tradition of celebrating at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta.
However, Indonesia is not alone in its August independence celebrations. In fact, 19 countries mark their own Independence Days during this month. Notably, some of these dates coincide with Indonesia's Independence Day.
Here's a list of 19 countries that celebrate their Independence Days in August:
1. August 1: Independence Day of Benin
2. August 1: Swiss Confederation Foundation (1291)
3. August 6: Bolivia (1825)
4. August 6: Jamaica
5. August 7: Côte d'Ivoire
6. August 9: Singapore (1965)
7. August 10: Ecuador Declaration of Independence (1809)
8. August 15: Republic of Congo (1960)
9. August 15: India (1947)
10. August 17: Indonesia (1945)
11. August 17: Gabon (1960)
12. August 19: Afghanistan (1919)
13. August 20: Hungary
14. August 24: Ukraine
15. August 25: Uruguay (1825)
16. August 27: Moldova
17. August 31: Malaysia (1957)
18. August 31: Trinidad and Tobago (1962)
19. August 31: Kyrgyzstan
Gabon's Independence Day: Celebrated on August 17
Interestingly, Gabon also celebrates its Independence Day on August 17, the same day as Indonesia. Gabon, located in Central Africa, marks this occasion with national holidays on August 16 and 17, commemorating its liberation from French colonial rule on August 17, 1960.
The name "Gabon" was given by Portuguese explorer Diego Cam in the late 15th century, who saw the mouth of the Como River resembling a "capa" or cloak in Portuguese. The French began their colonial presence in Gabon in the early 19th century, driven by the slave trade. By 1839, local rulers ceded sovereignty to the French.
French colonial leader Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza led the first mission to the Gabon-Congo region in 1875, establishing French control and founding Franceville in 1880. Gabon officially became a French colony in 1885 and was one of four French African colonies by 1910.
Gabon’s Path to Independence
During the Fourth French Republic (1946–1958), Gabon was an overseas territory with its own government but still under the French Parliament. In 1958, Gabon chose to become an autonomous republic within the French Community.
Gabon gradually gained full independence on August 17, 1960, joining three other French Equatorial African territories that also gained independence in the same month. Léon M'ba was officially elected as Gabon's first president in 1961. After independence, France and Gabon established a new dynamic, partly supported by Gabon's uranium wealth, which was crucial to France's nuclear program.
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