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El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba (formerly Albert-Bernard Bongo) (born December 30, 1935) became President of Gabon in 1967, aged 32, the world's youngest president at the time. Following the death of Togolese president Gnassingbé Éyadema in February 2005 he became Africa's longest serving ruler, and remains in office today. He is the world's seventh longest serving ruler. Bongo was born in Lewai — currently Bongoville in Eastern Gabon, near the border with Congo Republic. He was elected vice president in March 1967, alongside Leon M'ba, and became president following the death of M'ba on November 28, 1967. He converted to Islam in 1973 and changed his name to Omar. He added the surname Ondimba in 2003. In the early 1990s, Bongo ended the one-party domination of the Gabonese Democratic Party and allowed multiparty elections in response to popular demand. These elections were held in 1993 and 1998: Bongo won both times, taking 51.2% and 66.88% of the vote respectively. Despite the reforms, it is generally thought that a non-independent judiciary and widespread corruption and patronage limit the ability of citizens to effectively change the government. In 2003, the constitution was changed to eliminate any restrictions on the number of terms a president can serve: Bongo's critics have accused him of intending to rule for life. Bongo announced his candidacy for the 2005 presidential election on October 1. On October 6 it was announced that the election would be held on November 27, although security forces would vote two days earlier. * According to official results, Bongo won the election with a large majority of 79.2%. * He was sworn in for another seven-year term on January 19, 2006. * Bongo's wife is the daughter of Congolese president Denis Sassou-Nguesso. His son, Ali-Ben Bongo, was Foreign Minister (1989–1991), and became Defence Minister in 1999. Bongo is one of the wealthiest heads of state in the world, and this is attributed mainly to oil revenue and alleged corruption. In 2005, an investigation by the United States Senate Indian Affairs Committee into fundraising irregularities by lobbyist Jack Abramoff revealed that Abramoff had offered Bongo to arrange a meeting with U.S. President George W. Bush in exchange for USD 9 million. Bongo met Bush 10 months later in the Oval Office.
Trivia In February 2001, the then Foreign Minister of Norway, Thorbjørn Jagland, in an attempt to be funny and entertaining, called Mr. Bongo "Bongo from Congo" on national television. This was after Mr. Bongo had visited Norway. Mr. Jagland said "Everybody in the Foreign Office told me I was about to meet 'Bongo from Congo.' During our meeting I almost said Congo instead of Gabon, where he (Mr. Bongo) is from." In the Robert Altman film O.C. and Stiggs, the main characters converse by telephone with "President Bongo" of Gabon while making themselves at home in an insurance salesman's house. O.C. and Stiggs also fly a Gabonese flag from the antenna of their monster car. ---- The following text should be wikified, NPOVed and included into the above article History Youngest child of a big Batéké family of farmers, Omar Bongo was born on the 30th of December 1935 in Lewaï, a town in the province of Haut-Ogooué in the south-east of Gabon. He did his primary and secondary studies at Brazzaville (Congo) which was in this time the capital of French Equatorial Africa. After his secondary studies, he worked in a post office then entered the military, becoming under-lieutenant and then lieutenant of the air force successively in Brazzaville, Bangui, and Fort Lamy (now called N'djamena). He came back to his native country, and served in the French army. During his service he was remarkable for his talent, and was put in the secret service of the French army. Step by step, under the protection of the French, he became famous in the big administrations of the country. His first steps in politics After the independence of Gabon in 1960, it was near M. Leon Mba, the first president of the Gabonese republic, that the young Albert-Bernard Bongo started his political career. Step by step, he climbed levels in Leon Mba’s administration. He started first in the department of foreign affairs and in 1961, he entered in the cabinet of the head of the state. From this time, he became the man of trust of the president. Indeed, Leon Mba really appreciated his capacity for work, his dynamism, and his audacity. That’s why in 1965, Bongo became minister of information and tourism and in 1966, he was appointed vice-president of the republic. One year later Leon Mba became sick and died, and Bongo became by the same occasion President of the Gabonese Republic according to the Gabonese constitution. He became the youngest president in the world (just 32 years old) on the 28th of September, 1967. His close relationship with France and the ex-president put him firmly in power. Private Life Before his entry into the political arena, Bongo was married to Josephine Kama. When he gained the presidency, she became the first lady of the Gabonese republic. Josephine Kama was born the 22nd of January, 1945 at Brazzaville (Congo), where she later attended a Roman Catholic school and pursued secretarial studies. She was very liberal and attracted to music, even dreaming to become a famous singer. Her attraction to music was against protocol as a first lady, leading to her 1986 divorce with the Bongo. Afterwards, she began a professional career as a singer and changed her name to Patience Dabany, later achieving moderate fame. She still maintains a friendly relationship with the president. Following this divorce, Bongo encountered many pressures from the press: He was obliged to find another wife. Consequently, he married Edith Lucie Nguesso, the eldest daughter of the Congolese President Denis Sassou-Nguesso. Unlike Josephine Kama, she has given governmental protocol a greater level of respect. She was born on the 10th of March 1964, in Brazzaville; she is a holder of the aggregation of doctor. She has been quite active in her role as first lady and built the biggest hospital of the region alongside her assistance to various organisations and structures in the whole country. Omar Bongo has children from his first and second marriage. He is believed to be a good and exemplary father, who loves his children and respects family tradition. His men of trust Like all presidents, Bongo has his men of trust. Native of a minority group ethnic, Bongo associates all the communities in the share of power in order to avoid confusion and civil war. But the key posts of his administration are reserved for his peers. First, the director of his cabinet is his elder daughter Pascaline Bongo Ondimba, the minister of the defence is his first son, Ali Bongo Ondimba. The minister of finance is his son-in-law, Paul Toungui…. And some others of his close friends in the key posts of his administration in order to avoid all forms of betrayals. He is well encircled. One of the secret of his durability. There are two main facts which marked the private life of the president Bongo. First fact, in 1973, he changed his religion, his name and became Muslim. Then, Albert Bernard bongo became El hadj Omar Bongo. Secondly, in 2003-2004, He took the real name of his father. El Hadj Omar Bongo became El Hadj Omar bongo Ondimba. This name was granted to all members of his family. Union As president in an under developed country; his first goal should be the development of the country. Unfortunately, Bongo has chosen to concentrate on selling Gabon's natural resources to the highest bidder, and pocketing the profits while keeping his people in an under-developed state. In the past, most contracts and concessions were given to the French. Over the past thirty years, however, the Chinese have become more and more prominent in the Gabonese economy. Regional Solidarity within Central Africa Even in central Africa, he did many things to instaure peace and harmony Bongo’s struggle is to claim Union among people in order to reduce the conflicts in the region. Project Since 1967, Omar Bongo is the president of Gabon. One of his main characteristics and way of doing politics is based on the union of his people. Indeed, he succeeds in linking people with many different cultures and behaviours. In fact, Gabon (despite its little population) has lot of different ethnic groups. Bongo knew how to manage these people to live together in the same land without any civil war. Thanks to his concept of Union. As a president in an under developed country; his first goal is the development of the country. According to him, there is three main steps that we should follow in order to reach this development. First, the “Union”. One of the main projects of Bongo was the “Transgabonais”. It is a railroad which is supposed to link all the cities of the country and some states of central Africa. It was one of his difficult and costly project. His dream was to see all the people united. Secondly, building of many facilities, especially in the sector of education and health. For him, these two sectors should be free in Gabon because it is a source of development. In Gabon, thanks to Omar Bongo, schools and hospitals are free. Transportations for students and drugs for old people are also free. There is many scholarships and facilities for young people. All this privileges are under the bank account of Bongo. In last, the main source of development is the “peace”. Gabon under Bongo’s power had never known the war. For him, you can’t do anything without peace and union. It is the basis of the development, and the step number one. Bongo and the “CEMAC” in Central Africa President since 1967, Bongo becomes the doyen in Africa after the death of Gnassingbe Eyadema (president of Togo). Because of his actions, his power and his experience, bongo is respected in Africa. He is the principal character who intervenes for the stability in central Africa. His mediation between the different protagonists and his influence reduce the extent of the conflict. Indeed, Bongo spent lot of money, energy and time organising meeting, congress in order to stop the crisis in the region. The good sense of his advices are well listened Omar Bongo Ondimba: The doyen in Africa In Africa also, Bongo is well respected. From the king of Morocco Mohamed VI to the president of South Africa Thabo Mbeki. The president is always solicited for solving conflict. He knows the continent more than anyone. He intervened in many crises within the continent (Ivory Coast, Togo, Congo, Sudan, Darfur….). Every president needs his advices. He is called the “wise man" of politics in Africa. As soon as you speak about Gabon, you see Bongo and as soon as you speak about presidents in Africa you cannot forget Omar Bongo Ondimba; whatever is good or wrong. That sent us to conclude that the image of Bongo is unavoidable in Africa. Bongo in Europe and in the rest of the world His close relation with France In addition, beyond Africa, Omar Bongo has good relationship. Especially with France. Bongo knows that his place is due to the support of France. Since the army Bongo maintained good relationship with France. France is the first economic and social partner of Gabon. Bongo is a close friend of Jacques Chirac, the president of France. Being a colony of France, Gabon knows many resemblances in way of doing with France. That’s why 650 French soldiers are permanently took up a position near the presidency at Libreville, and more than 10 000 French residents live in Gabon. France and Gabon are partner for life with Omar Bongo. Bongo with the rest of the world Nevertheless, Bongo tends to diversify his contacts. New close relation have started with some countries of Asia especially China. Bongo signed many contracts with China especially in the domain of building facilities and fishing. Bongo frequently received some personalities like Hu Jintao (President of China), George W. Bush (President of the U.S) and some personalities of the World Bank. President Bongo is the Vice President of the International Parliament for Safety and Peace, an intergovernmental organization based in Italy (see *and *). See also | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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