Africa’s longest ruling head of state, Omar Bongo, at age 73 has died in a Spanish clinic. Bongo, Gabon’s president for more than four decades, had been in a Spanish hospital for the past couple weeks for what was said to be exhaustion following the death of his wife.
In early May Bongo temporarily suspended his duties, saying he needed time to mourn the death of his wife who died in March in a Moroccan hospital. Although there had been no official diagnosis of his illness, there were reports that he is suffering from cancer but in the end it was announced that he died of a heart attack.
Since the onset of his illness, the question of who would takeover the West African country has been the subject of much speculation. The constitution calls for the Senate leader Rose Francine Rogombe to takeover as president until an election can be arranged, but it is also likely that someone with a hankering for the presidential palace will take the initiative and assert control over the country. Analysts say factions within the ruling Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG) will be jostling to work out who succeeds him, with his son, Defense Minister Ali Ben Bongo, seen as a leading candidate.
However the government said it would respect the terms of the constitution, under which Rogombe is expected to take over as interim leader. She should then organize elections within 45 days.
"I call for calm and quiet contemplation in order to preserve the unity and the peace which was so dear to our late father," Ben Bongo said on Gabonese television in a message issued on behalf of the ruling family.
The country at this time is quiet and according to French radio the Gabonese defense minister has ordered the closure of air, land, and sea borders. The mayor of the capital city of Libreville has banned large gatherings and ordered nightclubs and bars to close as security forces patrol.