 The elder Gondjout began his service in the French colonial administration in 1928.In 1943 he founded the "Cercle amical et mutualiste des évolués de Port-Gentil" (roughly translated as Mutual Friends for the Evolution of Port-Gentil), an organization that encouraged and utilised the talents of educated Gabonese.With the assistance of Mpongwe businesspeople, In 1945 he established the Gabonese Democratic Party alongside Emile Issembe.