Biography

El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba (born December 30, 1935), known simply as Omar Bongo, was a distinguished Gabonese politician and entrepreneur who dedicated his life to serving his nation.

Omar Bongo held the esteemed office of the second president of Gabon for an illustrious period, commencing in 1967 until his untimely passing in 2009.

During his presidency, Omar Bongo achieved the remarkable distinction of becoming the longest-serving non-royal head of state on the African continent.

Early Life & Education

Omar Bongo, born on December 30, 1935, in Lewai, French Equatorial Africa, had the privilege of being raised by his parents, Basile Ondimba and Jeanne Ebori. 

Omar Bongo was the youngest among twelve children and belonged to the small Bateke ethnic group. 

Following his primary and secondary education in Brazzaville, Omar Bongo embarked on his academic journey to gain knowledge and skills.

Career

Following Gabon’s attainment of independence in 1960, Omar Bongo embarked on his political journey, rising through the ranks under President Léon M’ba. In the 1961 parliamentary election, he campaigned for Marcel Sandoungout in Haut Ogooué, who won and became Minister of Health.

Omar Bongo assumed the role of Minister of Information and Tourism in August 1966. After President M’ba‘s health deteriorated in November 1966, Bongo was appointed Vice President and later became President in December 1967, with support from French leaders.

In 1990, Gabon transitioned to a multi-party system amid strikes and unrest. The incumbent president’s mandate was upheld until 1994, but future elections would include multiple candidates, and presidential terms were extended to five years with one re-election.

Omar Bongo‘s passing in 2009 led to a month-long mourning period and a week-long state funeral attended by 15 world leaders, including the President of France.

Social Media

Omar Bongo, the former president of Gabon, has no social media accounts. He died in 2009, and social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram were not widely used.

Personal Life

Omar Bongo was married multiple times and had several children. His first wife was Louise Mouyabi Moukala, with whom he had a daughter named Pascaline Bongo Ondimba. He then married Patience Dabany, and they had two children together: a son named Ali Bongo Ondimba and a daughter named Albertine Amissa Bongo. 

Lastly, Omar Bongo married Edith Lucie Bongo, with whom he has two children: Omar Denis Junior Bongo Ondimba and Frédéric Bongo Ondimba. Additionally, Omar also has a son named Yacine Queenie Bongo Ondimba.

Cause Of Death

On June 8, 2009, Omar Bongo, the former president of Gabon, passed away at 73 in a hospital in Barcelona, Spain. The Gabonese government officially declared that his cause of death was cardiac arrest. However, there have been particular sources that have raised suspicions of possible poisoning as a contributing factor to his demise.

Net Worth

Omar Bongo, the former president of Gabon, maintained a secretive approach when revealing his net worth, leaving it unknown to the public. Nevertheless, it is widely recognized that he was among the wealthiest leaders worldwide. 

The primary source of his considerable wealth was predominantly linked to revenue generated from the oil industry and his alleged involvement in corrupt practices. Despite the absence of concrete figures, there is no denying that Omar Bongo possessed immense financial resources during his tenure as head of state.

According to research, Omar Bongo would have accumulated an estimated net worth of $1 billion before passing on.