"Since Gabon attained independence in 1960, there have been two dominant factors in the personal trajectories of the political and administrative elite: The first concerns educational capital as an indispensable resource; and the second concerns the importance of affiliation groups to which the individual may feel s/hebelongs or to which s/he actually belongs. This paper discusses the importance of the system of social relationships in determining the personal trajectories of members of the political and administrative elite of Gabon, i.e., people occupying institutional positions publicly recognized with wealth, prestige, and/or political or administrative decision-making authority. It also points to the role of where one was educated, which is emerging as a social framework in which relationships are forged."