Gabon announced on Monday the death of president Omar Bongo Ondimba, Africa’s longest-serving leader, whose rule was tainted by corruption, and locked its borders as thoughts turned to succession.
After Bongo’s prime minister confirmed news of the 73-year-old’s death by heart attack in a private clinic in Barcelona, Spain, officials in the west African nation announced 30 days of national mourning, with all flags flown at half-mast.
Bongo’s body is to be repatriated to Libreville on Friday, leaving time for a ceremony to be held in Spain, a Gabon official told reporters. The official funeral will be held in Gabon between Friday and next Monday, he said.
PHOTO: EPA
Bongo’s 50-year-old son Ali Ben Bongo, Gabon’s defense minister and favorite to succeed him, renewed appeals for public calm — indicating his pivotal role in coming days and weeks.
“I am calling for calm and serenity of heart and reverence to preserve the unity and peace so dear to our late father,” he said in a televised appeal after his ministry announced the closure of air, land and sea borders.
Bongo, in power since 1967, was understood to have been treated for intestinal cancer.
The African Union (AU) led continental tributes, which also came in from the Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast, Morocco’s King Mohammed VI and the Union of Forces of the Resistance (UFR) rebels in Chad.
At AU headquarters peace and security commissioner Ramtane Lamamra said a “very important son of Africa” had died.
US President Barack Obama said Bongo “played a key role in developing and shaping the strong bilateral relationship that exists between Gabon and the United States today. His work in conservation in his country and his commitment to conflict resolution across the continent are an important part of his legacy and will be remembered with respect.”
Bongo came to power in 1967 with French support and ruled over a state that grew rich on abundant oil while most of the 1.5 million population remained poor.
His demise raised fears of a power vacuum and reports of his death on Sunday prompted Libreville residents to stock up on fuel.
On Monday, police and troops were posted at key points across the capital, while residents complained that Internet access to international news had been cut in various parts of the country and telephone lines severely disrupted since Sunday. Gabon Telecom operator said the interruption was accidental.
“The incident shut down more than half of international phone lines, data transmissions and the Internet,” it said in a statement.
Libreville shut up shop, with bars and night clubs closing until further notice.
Security worker Ismael Joseph Essono said: “In Africa, when a leader dies, it’s desolation. Think about it: 41 years in power, the people are in mourning.”
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