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Gabon President Omar Bongo Dead at 73

In office since 1967, he was world's longest-serving leader

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Jun 8, 2009 12:35 PM CDT

(Newser) – Gabonese President Omar Bongo has died of cardiac arrest at age 73, the BBC reports. Bongo has led Gabon since 1967, which made him the longest serving president in the world. Bongo has been in a hospital in Barcelona since May, and prior rumors of his death had sparked panic in Gabon, with food stockpiling threatening to close shops.

The head of the Senate, a Bongo ally, will step into his job for now, but an election must be held within 45 days. Opposition leaders are already questioning whether that election will be free or fair. Though government officials said Bongo, who was facing a French corruption investigation, was only in the hospital for a checkup, there were reports that he had cancer.

In this Friday July 27, 2007 file photo, President of Gabon Omar Bongo, right, waves to bystanders from an open car during a motorcade with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, in Libreville, Gabon. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, file)

In this July 27, 2007 file photo President of Gabon Omar Bongo is seen during a military parade at Libreville's airport, Gabon, upon French President Nicolas Sarkozy's arrival. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, file)

In this Feb. 27, 2006 file photo Gabon's President Omar Bongo is seen during a tripartite summit at the UN headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. (AP Photo/KEYSTONE/Salvatore Di Nolfi, File)

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Gabon President Omar Bongo Dead at 73

In office since 1967, he was world's longest-serving leader

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Gabon President Omar Bongo Dead at 73

In office since 1967, he was world's longest-serving leader

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Africa • election • Gabon • Omar Bongo

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

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More Newser Stories

Ben Affleck Lends Star Power on African Atrocities

He and 'Washington Post' columnist hear tales of LRA brutalities

Bungee Cord Breaks Over Croc-Infested River

Australian tourist falls into African river on New Year's Eve

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Islamist network stretches across continent, taking refuge in Sahara

Activists: Coke Propping Up Swaziland Dictator

Huge Coca-Cola operation under fire

DNA Unlocks Secret of Early Humans

Homo sapiens may have gone to India first

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