Ali Bongo Of Gabon: From successor to deposed president, by Hamzat Ibrahim Abaga
Ali Bongo Ondimba is an African politician who has been the President of Gabon since 2009 until Wednesday, 30th August 2023.
Born in Brazzaville, Congo, Bongo is the son of the late Omar Bongo, who ruled Gabon for 41 years until he died in 2009.
READ ALSO: Another coup in Africa as Gabon military officers seize power, cancel election results
Since taking over the presidency, Ali Bongo Ondimba has been credited with continuing the political legacy of his father while also introducing policies aimed at modernizing the country.
His political career began when his father appointed him as Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1989, a position he held for nearly a decade. Following his father’s death, Ali, who had been serving as Minister of Defense, was declared the winner of the presidential elections amid allegations of electoral fraud.
Despite these claims, Ali has remained in power, winning a second term in 2016 despite facing criticism for his human rights records.
During his presidency, Ali introduced several policies aimed at modernizing the country, including investing in infrastructure and healthcare and tackling corruption. However, his tenure has also been marked by controversy, with opposition parties accusing him of authoritarianism and human rights abuses.
Despite these challenges, Ali Bongo Ondimba remains a prominent figure in Africa and Gabon politics, owing in part to his father’s legacy. While some criticize him for continuing his father’s political dynasty, others argue that he has brought stability to the country and ushered in a new era of modernisation.
Until Wednesday, August 30 when Ali Bongo Ondimba was deposed by a group of senior military officials, following the country’s just concluded general elections, which ushered him in for a third term.
