Gabon: President Bongo Confirmed Dead

8 June 2009
allAfrica.com

Gabon's President Omar Bongo, 73, has died in a hospital in Spain.

After conflicting reports about Bongo's death throughout Monday, Gabon's Prime Minister Jean Eyeghe Ndong has confirmed that Bongo had died, news agencies reported. Bongo reportedly suffered a heart attack.

Bongo was in Spain receiving treatment for cancer. He stepped down from day-to-day activities  in early May as a result of his health.

Bongo, one of three African heads-of-state facing a French corruption investigation, was Africa's longest serving ruler. He assumed power in Gabon in 1967.

Tagged:
Copyright © 2009 allAfrica.com. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.

AllAfrica publishes around 500 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.