biography
| name: |
Bongo, Omar
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| |
originally Albert-Bernard Bongo
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| sex:
| male
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| lived:
| (1935– )
|
| biography:
| Gabonese president (1967– ), born in Lewai, Gabon. In 1960 he joined the civil service, then moved into the political arena and succeeded President M'ba in 1967. The following year he created a one-party state based on the Gabonese Democratic Party, and in 1973 announced his conversion to Islam, adopting the name Omar. In 1986 he was re-elected for the third time. Following the discovery of a coup plot, he began a programme of reform which included the introduction of a multi-party system (1991). He was re-elected as president in 1993 and 1998. |
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