Omar Bongo

Omar Bongo

human

Ein sex anaa gender	male
Ein country of citizenship	France, Gabon
Name in native language	Omar Bongo Ondimba
Birth name	Albert-Bernard Bongo
Name wey dem give am	Omar
Family name	Bongo
Ein date of birth	30 December 1935
Place dem born am	Bongoville
Date wey edie	8 June 2009
Place wey edie	Barcelona
Manner of death	natural causes
Cause of death	myocardial infarction, small intestine cancer
Place wey dem bury am	Franceville
Spouse	Patience Dabany, Edith Lucie Bongo
Kiddie	Ali Bongo Ondimba, Pascaline Bongo Ondimba, Omar Denis Junior Bongo
Languages edey speak, rep anaa sign	French
Ein occupation	politician, military personnel, minister
Position ehold	President of Gabon, chairperson of the Organisation of African Unity, Vice President of Gabon, Prime Minister of Gabon
Political party ein member	Gabonese Democratic Party
Candidacy in election	1973 Gabonese presidential election, 1986 Gabonese presidential election, 1979 Gabonese presidential election
Religion anaa worldview	Islam, Sunni Islam
Military or police rank	soldier

Omar Bongo Ondimba (born Albert-Bernard Bongo; 30 December 1935 – 8 June 2009) be Gabonese politician wey serve as di second president of Gabon from 1967 till e die for 2009. As member of di Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG), Bongo climb ranks early as young official under Gabon ein first president Léon M'ba during di 1960s. Dem later elect am as second vice president for 1966. Then for 1967, after M'ba die, Bongo take over as di country ein president.

Bongo lead de one-party regime of de PDG till 1990, wey public pressure force am to bring multi-party politics insyd Gabon. E still manage keep power even though plenty people oppose ein rule for early 1990s — e do dat by pulling most of de big opposition leaders come join ein side. De 1993 presidential election be very wahala but e still win am, den later win again for 1998 den 2005. Each election wey come, ein party get bigger numbers for parliament den de opposition start cool down. After Cuban leader Fidel Castro step down for February 2008, Bongo come be de world ein longest-ruling non-royal leader, wey e hold dat title till e die de next year.

Bongo ein govment get strong support — diplomatic, financial den military — from demma former coloniser France, wey tie to de presence of French oil giant Elf den later Total for de country. People bash am say e just dey work for ein self, ein family den de big men around am, but not for Gabon people. For example, French green politician Eva Joly talk say during Bongo ein long rule, even though oil make de GDP per person rise reach one of de highest for Africa, Gabon still dey build only 5 km freeway every year den dem still get one of de highest baby death rates for world by de time Bongo die for 2009. Press freedom no dey — de regime go ban any media wey talk bad about Bongo or ein squad. People believe say e get hand insyd some killings like Ndouna Dépénaud, Joseph Rendjambé den (for France) Robert Luong. After Bongo die for June 2009, ein son Ali Bongo — wey ein poppie already give am big minister roles — win election take over for August dat same year, till ein cousin overthrow am for 2023.

Early life

Bongo be de last born of twelve siblings. Dem born am as Albert-Bernard Bongo on 30 December 1935 for Lewai (wey now dem dey call Bongoville) insyd French Equatorial Africa. Dis town dey for Haut-Ogooué province wey dey southeastern Gabon, close to de border plus Republic of de Congo. E come from one small ethnic group wey dem dey call Bateke. After e finish ein primary den secondary school for Brazzaville (wey be de capital of French Equatorial Africa by den), Bongo do work for Post plus Telecommunications Public Services before e join de French army. Inside de military, e serve as second lieutenant, then first lieutenant for Air Force, working for Brazzaville, Bangui den Fort Lamy (wey now be N'djamena, Chad), one after de other, before dem discharge am honourably as captain.

Early political career

Bongo start ein political journey after Gabon get independence for 1960, den e climb fast through plenty positions under President Léon M'ba. For de 1961 parliamentary election, Bongo campaign for M. Sandoungout for Haut Ogooué, e no run for election by ein own; Sandoungout win de seat come become Minister of Health. Bongo work small for Ministry of Foreign Affairs, den for March 1962, dem name am assistant director for de Presidential Cabinet; seven months later, e turn Director. For 1964, during de only coup attempt wey happen for 20th-century Gabon, dem kidnap M'ba den hold Bongo for military camp for Libreville, but two days later dem restore M'ba back to power.

On 24 September 1965, dem appoint am as Presidential Representative wey dem put am in charge of defence plus coordination. After dat, dem appoint am as Minister of Information plus Tourism — first e do am temporary, then for August 1966 dem give am de position properly. As M'ba ein health start go down, e appoint Bongo as Vice-President of Gabon on 12 November 1966. For de presidential election wey happen on 19 March 1967, M'ba win again as President den Bongo win as Vice-President for de same election. Since November 1966, Bongo dey control Gabon proper-proper sake of M'ba ein long sickness.

Presidency (1967–2009)

Single-party rule (1967–1990)

Bongo become president on 2 December 1967, after M'ba die four days before, den na Charles de Gaulle plus some big-big French leaders install am. As e be 32 years old by den, Bongo be de fourth youngest president for Africa, after captain Michel Micombero from Burundi plus sergeant Gnassingbé Eyadéma from Togo. For March 1968, Bongo make Gabon turn one-party state den e change de name of de Gabonese Independence Party — wey dem dey call Bloc Démocratique Gabonais (BDG) — to Parti Démocratique Gabonais (PDG). For de 1973 elections for parliament plus presidency, Bongo be de only person wey contest for president. E win plus all de PDG candidates wey dem vote 99.56% give dem. For April 1975, Bongo cancel de post of vice-president den appoint ein former vice-president Léon Mébiame as prime minister — de same position wey Bongo dey do plus ein presidency from 1967. Mébiame stay for dat prime minister seat till e resign for 1990.

On top ein presidency, Bongo still hold plenty minister positions from 1967 go dey, like Minister of National Defense (1965–1981), Information (1967–1980), Planning (1967–1977), Prime Minister (1967–1975), Interior (1967–1970), plus more more. After de PDG party congress for January 1979 den de December 1979 elections, Bongo comot from some of dem minister positions plus e hand over ein role as head of government give Prime Minister Mébiame. De PDG congress bash Bongo ein govment say e slow too much, den dem talk say make e stop dey hold plenti positions at once. Bongo still win election again for seven-year term for 1979, wey e carry 99.96% of de people demma vote. For de same year ein tail end, Robert Luong, wey dem say be Bongo ein wife ein lover, dem kill am for Villeneuve-sur-Lot, France, by some barbouze mercenaries.

Opposition against President Bongo ein govment start show face for late 1970s, as economic wahala begin bite Gabon people harder. De first organized but illegal opposition party be Movement for National Restoration (wey dem dey call MORENA). Dis moderate opposition group organize demo wey students plus academic staff for Université Omar Bongo for Libreville take part insyd for December 1981, den de school dem even close am small. MORENA talk say Bongo dey chop de country money, dey live big life den dey favour ein Bateke tribe; dem demand say make multi-party system come back. For February 1982, dem arrest some people as de opposition share leaflets wey dey bash Bongo ein govment during Pope John Paul II ein visit. For November 1982, dem try 37 MORENA members wey dem convict say dem offend state security. Dem dash 13 of dem heavy punishment—20 years hard labour; but later, dem pardon all of dem, den by mid-1986 dem free everybody.

Even though pressure dey, Omar Bongo still hold tight to one-party rule. For 1985, dem do legislative elections like how dem dey do am before; PDG approve all de nominations, come present one single list of candidates. On 3 March 1985, people vote make dem confirm de candidates. For November 1986, Bongo win de election again as president, get 99.97% of de vote.

Multi-party rule (1990–2009)

On 22 May 1990, afta strike, riot plus gbelemgbelem, PDG central committee plus de National Assembly agree say make dem change de constitution so dat multi-party system go fit happen. De presidential mandate wey dey run till 1994 still go hold. De next elections for president go be open wey more dan one person go fit contest. Dem come reduce de presidential term to five years, wey dem add say person fit only go for one more term afta de first one.

De next day, 23 May 1990, one loud critic of Bongo plus top political opposition leader, Joseph Rendjambe, dem find am dead for one hotel, dem talk say dem poison am. Dis Rendjambe guy be big business man plus secretary-general of opposition group wey dem dey call Parti gabonais du progres (PGP). E death spark di worst riot wey happen under Bongo ein 23-year rule. People burn presidential buildings for Libreville, den dem hold de French consul-general plus ten oil company workers hostage. French troops come carry foreigners commot wey dem declare state of emergency for Port Gentil, wey be Rendjambe ein hometown plus one big oil place. As dis thing happen, Gabon ein two main oil companies, Elf plus Shell, reduce production from 270,000 barrels per day to 20,000. Bongo vex say if dem no bring am back to normal, he go cancel dem exploration license, wey dem rush fix de output. France come start Opération Requin, send 500 troops (some people talk say e be 1,200) join de 500 Marines wey already dey Gabon "to protect de interest of 20,000 French people wey dey live there". Dem park tanks plus soldiers around de presidential palace make riot stop.

For December 1993, Bongo win de first presidential election wey dem do under de new multi-party constitution, but e no easy like before — he get around 51.4%. Opposition candidates no gree accept de election results. Serious wahala break out wey force government plus opposition sides make dem try settle politically. Dis talk bring about de Paris Accords for November 1994, wey dem take put some opposition people insyd one government of national unity. But dat arrangement no last long. De 1996 plus 1997 legislative plus municipal elections bring partisan politics back strong. De PDG chop clean victory for de legislative elections, but for de 1997 local elections, opposition people win some big towns like Libreville wey dem elect opposition mayors. Later on, Bongo still manage gather power back, as most of de big opposition leaders either chop top positions for government or dem take money shut up, wey make am win de 1998 election without stress.

For 2003, Bongo manage change de Constitution make e fit contest for re-election how many times e want, plus e change de Presidential term from five to seven years. Bongo ein critics talk say e wan rule till e die. On 27 November 2005, Bongo win one seven-year term as president, wey e get 79.2 percent of de vote, e clear pass ein four challengers. Dem swear am in for another seven-year term on 19 January 2006, den e remain president till e die for 2009.

Relations plus France

French culture, economy, plus polity don dey dominate de small African country Gabon for long. De French control wey happen during colonial time ... e turn into one kind sneaky friendship plus connection insyd Paris, wey Gabon ein leaders demself build after dem get independence for 1960. One French journalist wey sabi Africa well talk say, "Gabon be extreme case, almost like cartoon, of neocolonialism."

Bongo ein international relations plus affairs mostly dey move around him connection — plus Gabon ein own too — plus France, since Gabon dey fall under de Françafrique umbrella. Gabon get oil, one-fifth of de world ein known uranium (na Gabon ein uranium France take make dem nuclear bombs wey President Charles de Gaulle test for Algeria desert for 1960), big iron plus manganese deposits, plus plenty timber — all dis make Gabon always important give France. Dem talk say Bongo talk once say: “Gabon without France be like car wey no get driver. France without Gabon be like car wey no get fuel...” De connection between France plus Gabon mostly dey go through dem informal links like Jacques Foccart, de oil company Elf, diplomat Maurice Delauney, SDECE officer Maurice Robert plus SAC militia leader Pierre Debizet.

For 1964, when some rebel soldiers arrest Bongo for Libreville plus kidnap President M'ba, na French paratroopers rush come rescue dem abducted president plus Bongo, restore dem back to power. E no tey after dat wey Bongo come turn vice president for 1966 — dis happen after wetin be like one interview plus approval wey de Gaulle give am for Paris for 1965.

For 1988, New York Times talk say, “Last year, French aid to Gabon reach US$360 million. Dis money cover about one-third of Gabon im national budget, help dem give low-interest trade loans, pay salary for 170 French advisers plus 350 French teachers, den also pay scholarship for most of de 800 Gabonese wey dey study for France every year... Plus, according to Le Canard enchaîné, one French opposition newspaper, US$2.6 million from dis same aid go decorate President Bongo im DC-8 jet interior.”

For 1990, France, wey always get permanent military base for Gabon plus some of dem former colonies, help Bongo hold power when strong pro-democracy protest nearly comot am. Dem run one operation wey dem call Opération Requin.

Then for 1993, when Gabon nearly enter civil war after dem first multiparty presidential election, wey opposition start violent protest, na Paris host de peace talk between Bongo plus de opposition — dem call am Paris Agreement/Accords, wey later bring peace back.

Meanwhile for France, Bongo plus him family dey live big man life. According to Transparency International, dem get 39 luxury properties, 70 bank accounts, den at least 9 fine motor wey cost around US$2 million.

French president Valéry Giscard d'Estaing talk say na Bongo help fund Jacques Chirac him 1981 presidential campaign. According to am, Bongo don build “very questionable financial network” over time. Giscard say, “I call Bongo tell am ‘you dey support my rival him campaign’, and silence just full everywhere – silence I still remember till today. Then Bongo talk say ‘Ah, you sabi am’, wey shock me. From dat day, I cut off personal relations with am.” One Socialist parliamentarian, André Vallini, even talk say Bongo don support many French election campaigns, both for left and for right. For 2008, when President Nicolas Sarkozy him minister wey dey in charge of de ex-colonies, Jean-Marie Bockel, talk say some African governments dey waste public funds, Bongo vex well. Sarkozy come demote de minister sharp sharp just to calm Bongo down.

“He make him kontri plus de oil industry available as offshore slush fund,” na wetin political analyst Nicholas Shaxson tok — di man wey write book about Africa dem oil states. “All di French political parties — from left go reach right — use am secretly fund dem parties, plus also take di money give bribe so dem go fit win French business contracts all over di world.”

After Bongo die, President Sarkozy talk say e dey feel "sadness plus emotion"... and e promise say France go still "stay loyal to de long relationship of friendship" wey dem get plus Gabon. "Na great den loyal friend of France wey don lef we — one big figure for Africa," na so Sarkozy tok for him statement.

Allegations of corruption

Italian fashion designer Francesco Smalto admit say e dey supply Paris girls give Bongo so e go fit secure tailoring deal worth $600,000 every year.

Bongo na one of de richest heads of state for world, dem dey talk say e get plenty money from oil revenue plus wahala wey relate to corruption. For 1999, US Senate Permanent Subcommittee wey dey check Citibank say Bongo get about $130 million for e personal account inside dat bank, money wey dem claim come straight from Gabon government coffers.

For 2005, US Senate Indian Affairs Committee investigate one lobbyist, Jack Abramoff, wey dem catch say e promise arrange meeting between Bongo and President George W. Bush if dem pay $9 million. Even though nobody prove say dem pay de money, Bush still meet Bongo 10 months later for Oval Office.

For 2007, Bongo en former daughter-in-law, Inge Lynn Collins Bongo, wey be second wife of Ali Bongo, cause serious gbege when she show for VH1 reality show Really Rich Real Estate. For dat episode, she dey try buy one $25 million mansion for Malibu, California.

Dem mention Bongo recent years insyd French criminal investigations wey relate to hundreds of millions of euros wey Elf Aquitaine (di former French government oil company) allegedly pay illegally. One person wey represent Elf talk for court say dem dey give Bongo €50 million every year so e go allow dem exploit Gabon dem oil fields. By June 2007, Bongo plus other African leaders like Denis Sassou Nguesso from Republic of Congo, Blaise Compaoré from Burkina Faso, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo from Equatorial Guinea, den José Eduardo dos Santos from Angola, all dey under French investigation afta some NGOs for France — Survie den Sherpa — report say dem leaders chop public money and take buy expensive houses for France. All of dem deny say dem do anything bad.

Te Sunday Times (UK) reported on 20 June 2008 as follows:

One mansion wey cost £15 million for one of di finest areas for Paris don turn di latest of 33 expensive properties wey President Omar Bongo Ondimba from Gabon don buy for France, according to wetin French court investigation uncover. Di report show say Bongo, wey be 72 years den, plus him family members buy plenty luxury motors too, like one Maybach wey cost £308,823 wey e buy for him wife, Edith. Some of dis motors dem money come direct from Gabon government treasury. Di mansion dey Rue de la Baume, close to di Elysée Palace, and e be 21,528 square feet big. Dem buy am June di previous year under one Luxembourg company wey get two of Bongo dem pikin — Omar (13) and Yacine (16) — plus Edith and one of her nephews as partners. Di house be di most expensive one for Bongo him property collection, wey include nine other houses for Paris. Four of dem dey Avenue Foch, close to Arc de Triomphe, and he even dey rent one nine-room apartment for di same area. Bongo still get seven more properties for Nice, wey include four villas, one with swimming pool. Edith get two flats close to Eiffel Tower and another one for Nice. Investigators find dis properties through tax documents. When dem check Bongo him houses, dem discover records of all di motors dem get. Edith buy di Côte d'Azur blue Maybach in February 2004 using cheque from one account named “Prairie du Gabon en France,” wey be part of Gabon treasury. Bongo him daughter Pascaline use cheque from di same account in 2006 to pay part of £60,000 for Mercedes — she pay £29,497. Bongo himself buy Ferrari 612 Scaglietti F1 in October 2004 for £153,000. Him son Ali buy Ferrari 456 M GT in June 2001 for £156,000. US Senate report from 1997 talk say Bongo family dey spend £55 million every year. Another French investigation into Elf Aquitaine corruption show say one executive testify say Elf dey pay Bongo £40 million every year via Swiss bank accounts so dem fit tap Gabon oil. Bongo deny say dat one happen. Dis current French fraud investigation come from di OCRGDF agency afta Sherpa, one group of judges wey promote social responsibility, carry dem go court. Di lawsuit talk say: “No matter how good or qualified dem leaders be, nobody fit believe say na their salary dem use buy all dis things.”

For 2009, Bongo spend him last months dey fight serious gbege plus France over di corruption investigation wey dem dey run. One French court for February 2009 come order make dem freeze Bongo him bank accounts, dis one just make di whole matter worse. Bongo government come accuse France say dem dey run one “campaign to destabilize” Gabon.

Afta Sherpa plus Survie file complaint for 2007, French courts come begin seize some of di Bongo family dem properties and assets under di biens mal acquis (illegal wealth) rulings. Di matter make many people see how much public money dem believe say Bongo and him family don misuse buy fine-fine things for France.

Leadership style

[W]ith neat moustache plus sharp eye wey e dey hide behind dark shade, di man rule strong... E short small, like many people from him small Bateke ethnic group, and e dey always wear shoe wey get high heel make e look tall... But even though e short, e big well-well for power: for Gabon politics wey e rule like king for almost 42 years – and for Africa self, as one of di last of dem wey dem dey call “big men” for politics.

Omar Bongo, Africa dem "small Big Man", na one sharp, small-size man wey sabi speak correct French, wey people see as charismatic leader wey dem dey hail like god. E be one of di last African leaders wey dem dey call “Big Man.” Wetin hold e power for long na three things: France, di plenty oil money from Gabon dem 2.5 billion barrels of oil, plus e political sense wey dey sharp well-well.

Omar Bongo, wey love French things well-well, no waste time at all after e enter power, e quickly sign better deal plus France. E allow French oil company, Elf Aquitaine, to chop front seat for Gabon dem oil business, and France return de favour by making sure say Bongo remain for power as long as e want.

As oil money begin flow, Bongo use am flex life with im family—mansions full everywhere for France, presidential palace for Gabon cost $800 million, plus fine-fine cars everywhere. Di money wey e gather make am turn one of di richest men for di whole world.

But e no foolish—e allow small oil money to reach de people so dem no go vex. E do some small-small development for Libreville, but instead of building road network like dem advise am, e carry $4 billion build Trans-Gabon Railway go deep-insyd bush. Di oil money help pay plenty civil servants so people go dey manage chop, wear cloth, and stay calm. As The Guardian talk for 2008, na so Gabon under Bongo be.

Bongo like France well-well. From di start of ein presidency, e dey happy make deal wey go favour France, wey be demma former colonial master. E give French oil company, Elf Aquitaine, special right to tap Gabon ein oil, plus France too return di favour by making sure say Bongo go hold power forever.

Di oil boom wey come under Bongo make am live big man life—e get plenty luxury houses for France plus other places, e build presidential palace for Gabon wey cost about $800 million, e dey ride fine-fine cars, plus plenty more. All dis make am one of di richest men for world top. But e wise too—e allow small oil money drop go di people demma side so dem no go vex. E build some basic roads and infrastructure for Libreville, but instead of listen advice to build full road network, e go use $4 billion build railway wey enter inside forest deep-deep. Di oil money too pay salary for big civil service so people go chop small and get cloth wear. Na so Guardian newspaper for UK describe Gabon under Bongo for 2008.

Gabon dey produce small sugar, beer plus bottled water. Even though di soil dey rich and di weather be tropical, farming no too dey happen for di country. Most of di fruit plus vegetables dem dey carry come from Cameroon by truck. Milk sef dey fly in from France. And because people don depend for long on demma family wey get government work, many Gabonese no dey even wan do private or handwork jobs—na immigrants dey do most of di manual work for di country.

Bongo use part of di money build loyal people circle—government ministers, top civil servants, den army big men. E learn from M'ba say if you wan hold power, give every important tribe person one position make dem feel say dem get stake for government. Bongo no dey follow any ideology—na him own gain e dey chase—but di opposition sef no get any ideology. E sabi how to play people wey dey chase their own interest; instead of fight opponents, e go give dem small share of di oil money, make dem calm down or even join am. Na dis trick make am di most successful Francophone leader for Africa, rule pass four decades strong.

For 1993 when dem do multi-party presidential election wey Bongo win, plenty people shout say dem rig am. Opposition talk say dem cheat Father Paul Mba Abessole. Tension rise reach war level as protest come turn violent. But Bongo wan prove say no be only force e dey use take hold power, so e sit down with di opposition to settle, wey bring di Paris Agreement. For 1998 election, di same wahala happen—people no believe di results. But Bongo again choose peace, meet critics and discuss how to fix election laws to make dem fair. After ein party, PDG, win big again for 2001 parliamentary election, Bongo give government positions to big opposition people. Even Father Abessole join government under “friendly democracy.”

Di main opposition leader, Pierre Mamboundou wey come from di Gabonese People's Union, no gree attend di meetings wey dem hold after di 1998 elections. E talk say na Bongo dey try use am deceive opposition leaders. Mamboundou come tell people make dem boycott di December 2001 legislative elections, and for him hometown Ndende, him supporters burn ballot boxes plus voting papers for one polling station. After di 2001 elections, Mamboundou still reject big government position wey dem offer am. But even though Bongo threaten am, dem no ever arrest Mamboundou. Di president talk say him "policy of forgiveness" na him "best revenge".

But for 2006, Maboundou stop to dey criticize Mr. Bongo openly. People no hide say di president promise am US$21.5 million make e take develop him constituency, Ndende. As time dey go, Bongo come dey depend more more on him close family people. By 2009, him son Ali, wey he born with him first wife, don be Minister of Defence since 1999. Him daughter, Pascaline, na she dey head di president’s administration, and her husband, Paul Toungui, na Minister of Foreign Affairs.

For 2000, Bongo end one student strike by dash dem about US$1.35 million make dem fit buy di computers plus books wey dem dey demand. E call himself nature lover for country wey get di highest untouched jungle percentage among all di Congo Basin nations. For 2002, e comot 10 percent of Gabon land make e be national parks, and e promise say dem no go ever cut tree, mine, hunt or farm for dat area. But Bongo no dey shy to praise himself small. So Gabon come get places like Bongo University, Bongo Airport, plenti Bongo Hospitals, Bongo Stadium, plus Bongo Gymnasium. Even him hometown, Lewai, dem no leave am – dem change di name to Bongoville.

For international level, Bongo form him image like peacemaker, wey dey try settle wahala for places like Central African Republic, Republic of de Congo, Burundi plus DR Congo. For 1986, e image shine more for outside when dem give am Dag Hammarskjöld Peace Prize because of how e take help settle Chad-Libya border gbege. For him own people too, Bongo get plenty fans sake of say under him reign, peace plus stability dey.

Under Mr. Bongo ein time for power, Gabon no ever get coup or civil war — somtin wey be rare achievement for dat side, especially as e dey surrounded by countries wey full violence plus instability. Di oil money make Gabon ein economy dey resemble Arab country one pass normal Central African state. For plenty years, dem even talk (maybe e no be true) say Gabon get di highest per person Champagne consumption for di whole world.

According to political scientist Thomas Atenga, even tho Gabon dey make big oil money, "di Gabonese rentier state don dey run for years based on how di ruling class dey chop di resources, wey don build one kind parasitic capitalism around dem — but dis capitalism no really change how life be for ordinary people."

Illness den death

Main article: Death den state funeral of Omar Bongo

On 7 May 2009, Gabon Government talk say Bongo don put official work on hold small make he take mourn ein wife plus get some rest for Spain.

But international media begin report say ein matter no be just about rest — dem talk say di man dey very sick, and say dem dey treat am for cancer for hospital for Barcelona, Spain. Di Gabonese government still dey maintain say na just emotional stress after ein wife ein death make he go take small break, but later dem admit say e dey inside one Spanish clinic dey do medical check-up.

By 7 June 2009, some French media wey claim say dem get sources wey dey close to di French government begin talk say Bongo don die for Spain because of advanced cancer. Di Gabon government first deny am — even as di tori don spread reach plenti media houses — but later dem finally confirm say he don die. Na Gabon Prime Minister, Jean Eyeghe Ndong, come break di silence inside official statement, wey talk say Bongo die of heart attack just before 12:30 GMT on 8 June 2009.

Dem carry Bongo ein body go back Gabon, where e lie insyd state for five days make people fit come show demma last respect. Thousands of pipol come trotro for there to honor am. Dem do state funeral for am on 16 June 2009 for Libreville, wey almost two dozen African heads of state come attend — including some wey be strongmen wey rule for long. Di only Western heads of state wey show face be France ein president Nicolas Sarkozy plus ein predecessor Jacques Chirac.

After di funeral, dem carry Bongo ein body go Franceville, di main town for Haut-Ogooue province for southeastern Gabon, where e born, den bury am for private family burial on 18 June 2009.

Personal life

Bongo convert to Islam plus take de name El Hadj Omar Bongo when he visit Libya for 1973. That time, Muslims be small group for de native population; but after Bongo convert, de number grow small, even though dem still remain minority. He add Ondimba as surname on 15 November 2003 to honour ein poppie, Basile Ondimba, wey die for 1942.

Bongo ein first marriage be to Louise Mouyabi-Moukala. Dem born one daughter, Pascaline Bongo Ondimba, for Franceville for 1957. Pascaline be Gabon ein foreign minister before she turn director for de presidential cabinet.

Bongo ein second marriage be to Marie Joséphine Kama, wey later take de name Joséphine Bongo. Dem divorce for 1987, and after dat, she start music career wey she take de name Patience Dabany. Dem get one son, Alain Bernard (wey later take de name Ali) Bongo, plus one daughter, Albertine Amissa Bongo. Alain Bernard, wey dem born for Brazzaville for 1959, serve as foreign minister from 1989 go 1992, then minister of national defense from 1999 go 2009, before he win de presidency for August 2009 take replace ein poppie.

Bongo then marry Edith Lucie Sassou-Nguesso for 1989, wey be almost 30 years younger than am. She be daughter of Congolese president Denis Sassou Nguesso. She be trained pediatrician wey people know for her strong dedication to fight AIDS. She and Bongo born two children. Edith Lucie Bongo die on 14 March 2009 for Rabat, Morocco, four days after she turn 45, after she go through treatment for several months. De statement wey announce her death no talk de exact cause or de kind sickness. She no show for public for like three years before she die. Dem bury her on 22 March 2009 for de family cemetery for Edou, her hometown for northern Congo.

Altogether, Bongo get more than 30 children from ein wives and other women.

Bongo did also have some measure of scandal. In 2004, The New York Times reported that:

Peru dey investigate some tori wey talk say one beauty pageant contestant bin dey lured go Gabon to go become lover of di 67-year-old president Omar Bongo, but she refuse and come dey stranded for almost two weeks. One spokesman for Bongo talk say im no sabi anything about di allegation. According to di Peruvian Foreign Ministry, di contestant, Ivette Santa Maria, wey be 22 years old and Miss Peru America contestant, bin get invite to Gabon to be hostess for one pageant. For interview, Santa Maria talk say few hours after she land for Gabon on January 19, dem carry her go Bongo ein presidential palace. She talk say as Bongo enter di room, im press one button and sliding doors open to show big bed. She say, “I tell am say I no be ashawo, I be Miss Peru.” She comot run, and security guards gree drive her go hotel. But because she no get money to pay hotel bill, she come dey stranded for Gabon for 12 days until international women’s groups and other people intervene help her.

Honours

National honours

• Gabon:
  • Grand Cross of de Order of the Equatorial Star
  • Grand Cross of de National Order of Merit

Foreign honours

• Angola:
  • Recipient of de Order of Agostinho Neto (1992)
• France:
  • Grand Cross of de National Order of Legion of Honour
• Italy:
  • Knight Grand Cross with Collar of de Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (1973)
• Philippines:
  • Grand Collar of de Order of Sikatuna
• Portugal:
  • Grand Collar of de Order of Prince Henry (2001)
• South Korea (1949):
  • Grand Order of Mugunghwa (1975)
• United Kingdom:
  • Honorary Knight Grand Cross of de Order of St Michael and St George
• Yugoslavia:
  • Order of the Yugoslav Great Star

Insyd popular culture

Bongo show face for Robert Altman ein 1983 offbeat comedy O.C. and Stiggs, where di two title characters—wey no dey follow rules and get wild sense of humor—admire Bongo. For one scene, dem even call di Gabonese president and start to gist am about how dem spend one “utterly monstrous, mind-roasting summer,” and Bongo sound like say e dey amused as dem dey talk.

External links

• Omar Bongo's Official Presidential Facebook page
• "Omar Bongo's Demise Should Awaken Continent's Tyrants" by Arthur Asiimwe, New Times, 10 June 2009