# Omar Bongo

_Gabonese politician (1935–2009)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/omar-bongo
Last updated: 2026-11-03

> Omar Bongo Ondimba was the second president of Gabon, serving from 1967 until his death in 2009. A member of the Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG), Bongo was promoted to key positions as a young official under Gabon's first president Léon M'ba in the 1960s, before being made the second vice president in 1966, replacing Paul-Marie Yembit. In 1967, after M'ba's death, he became the country's president.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 30 December 1935 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q172083#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Bongoville ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q172083#P19))
- **Died:** 8 June 2009 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q172083#P570))
- **Place of death:** Barcelona ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q172083#P20))
- **Citizenship:** France; Gabon ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q172083#P27))
- **Occupation:** politician; military personnel; minister ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q172083#P106))
- **Political party:** Gabonese Democratic Party ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q172083#P102))
- **Spouse:** Patience Dabany; Edith Lucie Bongo ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q172083#P26))
- **Positions held:** chairperson of the Organisation of African Unity (2 July 1977 – 18 July 1978); President of Gabon (2 December 1967 – 9 June 2009); Vice President of Gabon (12 November 1966 – 2 December 1967); Prime Minister of Gabon; Minister of Information and Tourism ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q172083#P39))
- **Awards:** Order of the Equatorial Star; Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit; Grand Collar of the Order of Prince Henry; Order of Agostinho Neto; Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic; honorary doctor of the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia; Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George; Gold Olympic Order ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q172083#P166))

## Questions

**When was Omar Bongo born?**  
Omar Bongo was born on 30 December 1935 in Bongoville.

**What positions has Omar Bongo held?**  
Positions held by Omar Bongo include: chairperson of the Organisation of African Unity (1977–1978); President of Gabon (1967–2009); Vice President of Gabon (1966–1967); Prime Minister of Gabon; Minister of Information and Tourism.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Omar Bongo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omar_Bongo) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q172083](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q172083) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: El hadj omar bongo ondimba.jpg by Los4421 Florent Mbesse (CC BY-SA 3.0)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:El_hadj_omar_bongo_ondimba.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Omar Bongo, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: El hadj omar bongo ondimba.jpg — Los4421 Florent Mbesse, CC BY-SA 3.0.

## Cite this page

"Omar Bongo". DigiNepal. Last updated 3 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/omar-bongo. Retrieved 8 November 2026.