Insignia in the form of a gilt shield encircled by a rope, on suspension of crossed palm leaves imposed on a naval anchor with eyelet; the face with clasped black and white enamel hands respectively on a white and black enamel half shield divided vertically; the reverse plain gilt; on original ribbon. The Order was instituted by President Bongo by Decree 211 of 25 November 1960 in one single class to recognise those who contributed to the international activities of Gabon and was limited to fifty military and two hundred and fifty civil awards each year. It was superseded by the National Order of Merit in 1971 and thus had a life of less than eleven years. The Order is consequentially rare.
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