Death and state funeral of Omar Bongo

On 7 May 2009, the Gabonese government announced that Bongo had temporarily suspended his official duties and taken time off to mourn his wife Edith Lucie Bongo and rest in Spain.[https://web.archive.org/web/20090704190330/http://af.reuters.com/article/gabonNews/idAFL7100180820090507 Gabon's Bongo suspends activities to mourn wife] Reuters

It was reported by the international media that he was seriously ill, and undergoing treatment for cancer in hospital in Barcelona, Spain.{{Cite web|agency=Associated Press|date=21 May 2009|title=Gabon's President Bongo 'seriously ill' in Spanish hospital

|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/may/21/bongo-gabon-president-seriously-ill|access-date=18 June 2021|website=The Guardian}} The Gabonese government maintained that he was in Spain for a few days of rest following the "intense emotional shock" of his wife's death, but eventually admitted that he was in a Spanish clinic "undergoing a medical check up".{{Cite web |url=http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-05-22-voa32.cfm?rss=politics |title=Gabonese President Is In Spanish Clinic |access-date=16 February 2011 |work=Voice of America |archive-date=16 February 2011 |archive-url=http://web.archive.bibalex.org/web/20110216164131/http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-05-22-voa32.cfm?rss=politics |url-status=dead }} AFP eventually released a report stating among other things that "While Gabon's government has insisted he was undergoing a medical check-up, several sources said he was being treated for intestinal cancer, which they said had reached an advanced stage".{{Cite web |date=8 June 2009 |title=Gabon summons French ambassador over death reports |url=http://www.zimbio.com/President+Omar+Bongo/articles/43/Gabon+summons+French+ambassador+over+death |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401090746/http://www.zimbio.com/President+Omar+Bongo/articles/43/Gabon+summons+French+ambassador+over+death |archive-date=1 April 2012 |access-date=16 June 2009 |website=Zimbio |agency=Agence France-Presse}}

On 7 June 2009, unconfirmed reports quoting French media and citing sources "close to the French government" reported that Bongo had died in Spain.[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/politics-obituaries/5478816/Omar-Bongo.html Omar Bongo Obituary] Telegraph{{Cite news|date=8 June 2009|title=Gabon leader Bongo's death denied|work=BBC

|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8088382.stm|access-date=18 June 2021}} The government of Gabon denied the report and the French foreign ministry refused to confirm it.{{Cite web |date=2009-06-08 |title=Gabon summons French envoy |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/gabon-summons-french-envoy-20090608 |access-date=2025-03-08 |website=News24 |language=en-US}} The same day, Gabon's prime minister released a statement saying that he visited Bongo in the Quiron clinic in Barcelona and confirmed that he was still alive. He made no comment on Bongo's state of health after reading the statement to reporters.

On 8 June 2009, the BBC released a report stating that: "The Spanish foreign affairs ministry backed [Prime Minister] Ndong's assertion, saying: 'We have confirmed that he [President Bongo] is alive. We have no further information about him'. But later on Monday, reports in the Spanish media said Bongo had died shortly after Ndong's news conference. They quoted members of Bongo's entourage as saying the African leader had died at 12:00 GMT. The clinic and the Spanish government refused to comment on the latest reports".

The Gabonese government maintained its position. Sky News reported that a Gabonese government spokesman had stated: "The presidency of the Gabonese Republic would like to stress that the President of the Republic, the Head of State, His Excellency Omar Bongo is not dead ... He is continuing his holiday in Spain following his checkup at the Quiron Clinic in Barcelona". Speaking on French radio, spokesman Raphael N'Toutoume added that the latest update he had heard was good news – and that Bongo was preparing to leave the clinic. "We are getting ready to welcome the head of state. No date for his return has been set", the spokesman said.[http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Gabon-Denies-Omar-Bongo-Death-Report-African-Ruler-In-Barcelonas-Quiron-Clinic/Article/200906215298407?lpos=World_News_First_World_News_Article_Teaser_Region_2&lid=ARTICLE_15298407_Gabon_Denies_Omar_Bongo_Death_Report%3A_African_Ruler_In_Barcelonas_Quiron_Clinic Gabon Denies Omar Bongo Clinic Death Report], Sky News. Gabonese officials were privately furious with the premature announcement by France, questioning how Germany would react if France announced the death of Angela Merkel.{{cite web|url=http://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2009/06/09/apres-la-mort-d-omar-bongo-la-bataille-de-la-succession-est-ouverte-au-gabon_1204639_3212.html|title=Après la mort d'Omar Bongo, la bataille de la succession est ouverte au Gabon|date=9 June 2009|accessdate=15 June 2009|publisher=Le Monde|language=fr}}

Bongo's death was confirmed by Prime Minister Jean Eyeghe Ndong in a written statement on 8 June 2009. In his statement, Eyeghe Ndong said that Bongo had died of a heart attack shortly before 12:30 GMT on 8 June.{{cite news|title=Gabon's leader is confirmed dead|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8090056.stm|work=BBC News|date=8 June 2009|accessdate=8 June 2009}}

File:Flag of Gabon.svg.]]

Rose Francine Rogombé was sworn in as interim president on 10 June 2009, immediately declaring a period of mourning lasting thirty days. A government statement issued in the daily L'Union newspaper on 11 June, declared that day and the day of the funeral a public holiday. Businesses and offices were shut down in Libreville, with the city's mayor ordering all bars and nightclubs to be closed until after the funeral.

Bongo's corpse was flown by aircraft from his death place in Barcelona and arrived at Libreville's airport on 11 June at approximately 16:15 pm (01:15 AEST). A crowd of around 10,000 people, including diplomats, politicians and members of the country's security forces were waiting at the airport for the dead President's arrival. Several people were tearful, including cabinet chief Pascaline, also known as Bongo's daughter, who lay emotional in the arms of President Denis Sassou Nguesso. Young people in the crowd were seen to wear T-shirts decorated with Bongo photos and slogans which read: "I love and admire my president". Officials were also emotional as they left the plane, Bongo's coffin in tow, draped in Gabon's national flag.

The coffin was lifted into a military vehicle and it drove off. It arrived at Bongo's oceanside presidential palace overlooking the Atlantic. There it lay in state until the President's state funeral on 16 June 2009.{{cite news|url=http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/bongos-body-arrives-in-gabon-20090612-c55o.html|title=Bongo's body arrives in Gabon|date=12 June 2009|accessdate=15 June 2009|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald | first=Patrick | last=Fort}}

Also on hand were Nicolas Sarkozy and Jacques Chirac — the current and former French presidents and the only Western heads of state to attend. The pair arrived in a stretch limousine and were quickly escorted inside the palace as a group of people outside yelled, "No to France!" Sarkozy and Chirac later approached the coffin together and stood before it with their eyes lowered. They laid down a wreath of roses. Then, each signed a condolence book. Chad's President Idriss Déby bowed his head before the coffin. Cameroon's Paul Biya placed a wreath of flowers at the foot of the coffin, as did Burkina Faso's Blaise Compaoré.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}

A military parade was held to honour Bongo on 16 June 2009. Hundreds of thousands of people lined the streets to say farewell to Bongo, whose flag-draped coffin was paraded through Libreville. The state funeral began inside the marble halls of the presidential palace. The red carpet leading to his casket was strewn with white rose petals, flown in from France.

In a eulogy, Bongo's son and defence minister, Ali Bongo said: "You leave a peaceful, free and fair Gabon".

Bongo was privately buried in his native village on 18 June 2009.

Dignitaries from many nations arrived in Gabon to attend the funeral. This included approximately forty heads of state or their representatives, about a dozen of whom were from other African countries.{{cite news|url=http://in.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idINLG67772520090616|title=UPDATE 1-Sarkozy, African leaders in Gabon for Bongo ceremony|date=16 June 2009|accessdate=16 June 2009|work=Reuters India|archive-date=19 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090619142458/http://in.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idINLG67772520090616|url-status=dead}}

President of the Central African Republic, François Bozizé, arrived in Libreville on 11 June.

South African International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane and Sizakele Makhumalo Zuma, the wife of President Jacob Zuma, left for Gabon on 15 June and planned to return to South Africa on 16 June.{{cite web|url=http://appablog.wordpress.com/2009/06/15/minister-maite-nkoana-mashabane-to-pay-tribute-to-the-late-president-omar-bongo-ondimba/|title=Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane to pay tribute to the late President Omar Bongo Ondimba.|date=15 June 2009|accessdate=15 June 2009|publisher=African Press Organization}}

The Angolan Prime Minister, António Paulo Kassoma, flew to Libreville on 15 June to represent President José Eduardo dos Santos at the funeral.{{cite web|url=http://www.portalangop.co.ao/motix/en_us/noticias/politica/Premier-attend-the-funerals-late-gabonese-leader,15c8f12b-2d0f-4212-b0cc-f1e78e709ce9.html|title=Premier to attend the funerals of late gabonese leader|date=15 June 2009|accessdate=15 June 2009|publisher=Angola Press}} Prince Moulay Rachid of Morocco represented his brother, King Mohammed VI on 16 June.{{Cite web |date=17 June 2009 |title=S.A.R. le Prince Moulay Rachid représente S.M. le Roi aux obsèques de feu Omar Bongo |url=https://lematin.ma/journal/2009/Activite-Princiere_S-A-R--le-Prince-Moulay-Rachid-represente-S-M--le-Roi-aux-obseques-de-feu-Omar-Bongo/115241.html |access-date=15 April 2024 |website=Le Matin |language=fr |agency=Maghreb Arabe Presse}}

The French president Nicolas Sarkozy attended the funeral, despite a period of diplomatic difficulties between France and Gabon. Former French President Jacques Chirac and Sarkozy laid red and white coloured roses in wreaths at the coffin.{{cite web|url=http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-06-16-voa23.cfm|title=Heads of State Gather for Gabonese President's Funeral|date=16 June 2009|accessdate=16 June 2009|publisher=Voice of America|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090618103952/http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-06-16-voa23.cfm|archive-date=18 June 2009|url-status=dead}} Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner was also present at the ceremony. Chirac received cheers but Sarkozy was booed by crowd members who had gathered outside the presidential palace.

Spanish Third Deputy Prime Minister, Manuel Chaves González, attended the funeral.{{cite web|url=http://www.elfaroceutamelilla.es/content/view/35771/59/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20110720140737/http://www.elfaroceutamelilla.es/content/view/35771/59/|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 July 2011|title=Aplazada por el momento la visita del vicepresidente Chaves a Ceuta y Melillla|date=15 June 2009|accessdate=16 June 2009|publisher=elfaroceutamelilla.es (Spanish)}}

Others in attendance at the funeral included President of the Republic of the Congo, Denis Sassou Nguesso, President of Togo, Faure Gnassingbé, President of Cameroon, Paul Biya and Jean Ping, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea, and the Presidents of Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Chad, Mali, Senegal and the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8102338.stm|title=Sarkozy jeered at Bongo's funeral|date=16 June 2009|accessdate=16 June 2009|work=BBC News}}

Acting president Rose Francine Rogombé received the condolences of several world leaders following the death of Bongo.

• {{flagicon|CMR}} Cameroonian President Paul Biya sent his condolences to Rose Francine Rogombé, describing Bongo's death as "a great loss" to both Gabon and Africa and saying that Bongo was "an exceptional statesman and prominent political figure who had continuously worked for peace". The media in Cameroon described Bongo as "very friendly and full of good humour", with journalists remembering him affectionately. Members of the general public in Cameroon described Bongo as "a tested politician who tactfully ruled his country and left it in peace". Heads of diplomatic missions at Yaoundé's Gabonese Embassy mourned as did several Gabonese delegations who trooped at the Embassy.{{cite web |date=15 June 2009 |title=Cameroon mourns Omar Bongo |url=http://www.africanews.com/site/Cameroon_mourns_Omar_Bongo/list_messages/25437 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928063812/http://www.africanews.com/site/Cameroon_mourns_Omar_Bongo/list_messages/25437 |archive-date=28 September 2011 |accessdate=15 June 2009 |publisher=AfricaNews}}
• {{flagicon|PRC}} Chinese President Hu Jintao sent a message of condolence "on behalf of the Chinese government and people as well as in his own name" to Rose Francine Rogombe following the death of President Omar Bongo, calling him "a close friend of the Chinese people" and saying that they would "regret losing such a faithful friend".{{cite web |date=10 June 2009 |title=Chinese president offers condolences over death of Gabon's President Bongo |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-06/10/content_11522247.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024134607/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-06/10/content_11522247.htm |archive-date=24 October 2012 |accessdate=15 June 2009 |publisher=Xinhua News Agency}} Bongo visited China 11 times during his reign.
• {{flagicon|ZAM}} President of Zambia, Rupiah Banda expressed his condolences with the Gabonese government and people, comparing Bongo's death to that of his predecessor as Zambian president, Levy Mwanawasa, who died in 2008. Banda sent a letter to Rose Francine Rogombe, calling Bongo a "pan-Africanist who tirelessly and tenaciously worked for the unity of the African continent" and saying that Bongo's "outstanding, frank sentiments and contributions" during African Union summits would be missed across the continent.{{cite web |date=11 June 2009 |title=Zambia: Banda Mourns Omar Bongo |url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200906110523.html |accessdate=15 June 2009 |publisher=AllAfrica.com}}

A 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier between Cameroon and Gabon was postponed by FIFA following Bongo's death, with the Gabonese Football Federation being informed by letter. The match was rescheduled for 5 September.{{cite news |date=16 June 2009 |title=Gabon, Cameroon match postponed |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/8102767.stm |accessdate=16 June 2009 |publisher=BBC}}

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) declared a thirty-day period of mourning. Republic of the Congo{{cite web |date=11 June 2009 |title=Bongo: Deuil national de 8 jours au Congo |url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/2009/06/11/01011-20090611FILWWW00409-bongo-deuil-national-de-8-jours-au-congo.php}} declared eight days of mourning; Central African Republic{{cite web |title=CAR mourns Bongo |url=https://www.news24.com/News24/CAR-mourns-Bongo-20090609}} declared seven days of mourning; Benin,{{cite web |title=Benin Declares 3-Day Mourning Period - Public Holidays News Update |url=https://www.qppstudio.net/public-holidays-news/2009/benin-declares-3-day-mourning-period-002351.htm}} Chad,{{cite web |title=Tchad : 3 jours de deuil national suite au décès d'Omar Bongo |url=https://www.alwihdainfo.com/Tchad-3-jours-de-deuil-national-suite-au-deces-d-Omar-Bongo_a2672.html}} Equatorial Guinea,{{cite web |title=Equatorial Guinea Declares 3-Day Mourning - Public Holidays News Update |url=https://www.qppstudio.net/public-holidays-news/2009/equatorial-guinea-declares-3-day-mourning-002355.htm}} and São Tomé and Príncipe{{Cite web |date=9 June 2009 |title=São Tomé: Três dias de Luto Nacional por Omar Bongo |url=http://www.jornaldigital.com/noticias.php?noticia=18537 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090930121032/http://www.jornaldigital.com/noticias.php?noticia=18537 |archive-date=30 September 2009 |access-date=20 September 2024 |website=Jornal Digital |language=pt}} all declared three days of mourning.

Icelandic magazine Iceland Review referenced Bongo's death, calling him an "astute Gabon ruler".{{cite magazine |date=10 June 2009 |title=Death, Gabon, GDP figures and the Smidge of Moyo |url=http://www.icelandreview.com/icelandreview/daily_life/?cat_id=21123&ew_0_a_id=325502 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090615070437/http://www.icelandreview.com/icelandreview/daily_life/?cat_id=21123&ew_0_a_id=325502 |archive-date=15 June 2009 |magazine=Iceland Review |accessdate=15 June 2009}}

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Category:2009 in Gabon

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Category:June 2009 in Africa