Omar Bongo, former president of Gabon is born

Date: 30 Dec 1935
Updated: 30 Sep 2019

Born Alhaji Omar Bongo Ondimba, he was president of Gabon for 41 years, making him one of the longest serving non-monarch rulers in the world. In 1990, under intense pressure from its citizens, Gabon introduced a multiparty system; Ondimba had led the country under a one party system since he came into power in 1967. During his 41 years in office, he was implicated in a number of corruption scandals including embezzling state funds for his own personal gain. Bongo was a Muslim, having converted to the religion in 1973. He adopted the name “ Omar” soon after. He was married three times and was reported to have fathered about 30 children by the time of his death.

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How we know this

01The Telegraph, (2009), Omar Bongo, from The Telegraph, 8 June [online], Available at www.telegraph.co.uk [Accessed: 11 November 2013]
02Africa-Confidential, (2013), Omar Bongo Ondimba (Le Grand Camarade), from Africa-Confidential, [online], Available at www.africa-confidential.com [Accessed: 11 November 2013]

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2013, December 4). Omar Bongo, former president of Gabon is born. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0096727

South African History Online (2013) 'Omar Bongo, former president of Gabon is born', South African History Online, 4 December. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0096727 (Accessed: 5 October 2026).

South African History Online, Omar Bongo, former president of Gabon is born [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0096727, (accessed 5 October 2026).

"Omar Bongo, former president of Gabon is born." South African History Online, 4 Dec. 2013, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0096727. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

South African History Online. "Omar Bongo, former president of Gabon is born." South African History Online. December 4, 2013. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0096727.