GABON: Country calm after death of President Omar Bongo/Residents complain about media handling news of his death

Record ID: 788392

  • Title: GABON: Country calm after death of President Omar Bongo/Residents complain about media handling news of his death
  • Date: 9th June 2009
  • Summary: LIBREVILLE, GABON (JUNE 8, 2009) (REUTERS) WIDE OF LIBREVILLE SKYLINE GV OF BUSY LIBREVILLE STREETS, SHOPPING AREA PEOPLE WALKING PAST NEWSPAPER VENDOR
  • Embargoed: 24th June 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Gabon
  • Country: Gabon
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA42BGMIR4JNAJPDXUM2BM7ETT5
  • Story Text: Gabon's President Omar Bongo, Africa's longest-serving leader, died on Monday (June 8) of a heart attack in a Spanish clinic after more than four decades of tight control over the central African oil-producing nation.
    His death leaves a power vacuum. Analysts say factions within the ruling Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG) will be jostling to work out who succeeds him, with his son, Defence Minister Ali Ben Bongo, seen as a leading candidate.
    The 73-year-old leader died at around 2:30 pm (1230 GMT) in the Quiron clinic in Barcelona, according to a statement issued at the hospital by Gabonese Prime Minister Jean Eyeghe Ndong.
    The government said it would respect the terms of the constitution, under which Senate President Rose Francine Rogombe, a Bongo ally in the ruling Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG), is expected to take over as interim leader.
    She should then organise elections within 45 days.
    Bongo carved out a strong relationship with former colonial power France, and French influence is likely to continue.
    But many Gabonese people have not been happy with the way the French media announced Bongo's death on Sunday night, whilst the President was still fighting for his life in the Spanish Clinic.
    The early announcement created confusion and prompted an official denial by Gabon's Prime Minister on Monday.
    "Why should it be the French to announce that our president has passed away, we have a government here, it's up to our government to announce that. They shouldn't have treated our chief of state like that," a Libreville resident, who identified himself as Mr Joel, said.
    However Gabonese officials say the good diplomatic ties between France and Gabon will not be affected.
    "Our relationship with France remains good, this affair shouldn't have been treated in this manner. We have expressed to the French authorities both our discontent and our protest against the manner in which this news was transmitted by public media in France," said Gabon's Deputy Foreign Minister, Nelson M'essone, after a meeting with the French ambassador to Gabon, Jean Didier Roisin at the Gabonese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Libreville."
    Although there have been some concerns about stability, analysts say that the ruling party is likely to tightly manage the transition at least initially and that Bongo's successes in easing ethnic tensions will reduce the risk of turmoil.
    French radio said the Gabonese defence minister had ordered the closure of the country's air, land and sea borders.
    There are also reports of beefing up security measures around administrative buildings around Libreville.
    But largely the streets are reported to be calm, with Gabonese going around their business as usual.
    "People shouldn't just say no matter what, to stir up the Gabonese people. The situation is calm here," said another Libreville resident.
    So dominant was Bongo's personality over four decades that the opposition has had little opportunity to build much popular support. The potential for trouble lies more in the risk of fractures within the ruling elite, analysts say.
    Ben Bongo could face opposition from his brother-in-law, Foreign Minister Paul Toungui, while African Union Chairman Jean Ping, a long-time Bongo ally, and Vice-President Didjob Divungi Di Ndinge have also been cited as possible successors.
    Despite the government's pledge to respect the constitution, there are precedents in West Africa for trouble after the sudden death of a long-standing president.
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