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The death of Omar Bongo, the Veteran Gabon President

Africa’s longest-serving leader, President Omar Bongo of Gabon, has died at the age of 73, French media say.Mr Bongo had been treated in a clinic in the Spanish city of Barcelona. He was reported to have cancer, and had suspended his activities in May. Mr Bongo had led his oil-producing West African state since 1967. In May, a French judge announced an investigation into whether Mr Bongo had used state funds to buy homes and cars in France - a claim denied by Mr Bongo. The death of the Gabonese veteran leader was reported by AFP news agency, who quoted a French government source, and also by the website of French magazine Le Point, quoting a source close to Mr Bongo’s entourage. There has been no official confirmation so far.‘Powerful dynasty’Mr Bongo became vice-president in 1967, taking over as head of state later that year after the death of Gabon’s first post-independence President, Leon Mba. Mr Bongo was one of three African leaders being investigated for alleged embezzlement by a French judge - the others are Denis Sassou-Nguesso of the Republic of Congo and Teodoro Obiang Nguema of Equatorial Guinea.

It is alleged that the properties owned by Mr Bongo’s family in France could not have been purchased with official salaries alone.

Mr Bongo had denied any wrongdoing.

Opposition leaders have claimed his son, Ali-Ben Bongo, currently defence minister, is being manoeuvred to take over.

In 1973, Mr Bongo converted to Islam, changing his name to El Hadj Omar Bongo.

His wife, Edith Lucie Bongo, President Sassou-Nguesso’s daughter, died in March 2009.

BBC

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