Omar Bongo
El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba (born Albert-Bernard Bongo; 30 December 1935 – 8 June 2009) was a Gabonese politician who was President of Gabon for 42 years, from 1967 until his death in 2009. He was promoted to key positions as a young official under Gabon's first President Léon M'ba in the 1960s, before being elected Vice-President in his own right in 1966. In 1967, he succeeded M'ba to become the second President of Gabon, upon the latter's death.
Omar Bongo | |
|---|---|
 Bongo in 1973 | |
| 2nd President of Gabon | |
| In office 2 December 1967 – 8 June 2009 | |
| Prime Minister | Léon Mébiame Casimir Oyé-Mba Paulin Obame-Nguema Jean-François Ntoutoume Emane Jean Eyeghe Ndong |
| Vice President | Léon Mébiame Didjob Divungi Di Ndinge |
| Preceded by | Léon M'ba |
| Succeeded by | Rose Francine Rogombé |
| 2nd Vice-President of Gabon | |
| In office 12 November 1966 – 2 December 1967 | |
| President | Léon M'ba |
| Preceded by | Paul-Marie Yembit |
| Succeeded by | Léon Mébiame |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Albert-Bernard Bongo 30 December 1935 Lewai, French Equatorial Africa (now Bongoville, Gabon) |
| Died | 8 June 2009 (aged 73) Barcelona, Spain |
| Political party | Democratic Party |
| Spouse(s) | Louise Mouyabi Moukala (1957–1959) Patience Dabany (1959–1987)[1] Edith Lucie Bongo (1989–2009) |
| Children | 30+ (by various partners), including Ali Bongo Ondimba |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  France |
| Branch/service | French Air Force |
| Rank | Captain |
Bongo died in hospital from a heart attack on 8 June 2009 in Barcelona, aged 73.[2]
Omar Bongo Media
Bongo with Italian President Giuseppe Saragat in 1968
Omar Bongo's state visit to Netherlands in 1984
Bongo with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow whilst on a state visit in 2001.
President Bongo meets with American President George W. Bush in May 2004.
Omar Bongo with the President of Brazil, Lula da Silva, 2004.
Ali Bongo Ondimba with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, 2010
Mrs Bongo, Queen Juliana, Omar Bongo and Prince Bernhard in 1973
Order of the Equatorial Star - Grand Cross
National Order of Merit - Grand Cross
Ribbon bar: Legion of Honour, Grand Cross rank
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References
- ↑ Clark, John F (1996). "Gabon: Limited Reform and Regime Survival". Political Reform In Francophone Africa. Westview Press. p. 147. ISBN 978-0-8133-2786-0.
- ↑ "Gabon president dies in Spanish hospital". Globe and Mail. 22 April 2009.