Albert Bernard Bongo News Today

A contagion theory of coups in Africa misses the clear dimensions in which Gabon differs from other recent coups on the continent.

The military's assertion of control commenced on Wednesday, shortly after the election commission of Gabon declared Bongo as the re-elected president in the aftermath of the recent weekend's election. Individuals dressed in military attire took to national television to announce their seizure of authority.

The power of leaders such as Omar and Ali Bongo with their chateaux in France and Swiss bank accounts grew from the barrel of a French gun.

Gabon’s late ruler Omar Bongo converted to Islam in 1973 at the urging of Libyan dictator Gaddafi, making the once powerful Bongo family Muslims in a country where only a small minority of the population follow Islam.

In this piece, PUNCH looks at the profile of Ali Bongo, the man whose family has held to the reins of power for 53 years. 

Gabon declared its independence from France on August 17, 1960. Leon Mba became president before being overthrown in a military coup three years later, then France intervened militarily and returned him to power. Albert Bernard Bongo came to power and established the Gabonese Democratic Party as the country's sole governing party, benefiting from oil revenues. In 1973, Bongo converted to Islam and became Hadji Omar Bongo, before adding Ondimba (his father's name) to him in 2003.

From its independence in 1960 to Wednesdays coup détat against outgoing president Ali Bongo, who has been in power for 14 years, here are ten key dates in Gabons history.