Death and state funeral of Omar Bongo

On 7 May 2009, the Gabonese government announced that Bongo had temporarily suspended his official duties and taken time off to mourn his wife Edith Lucie Bongo and rest in Spain. It was reported by the international media that he was seriously ill, and undergoing treatment for cancer in hospital in Barcelona, Spain. Gabonese officials were privately furious with the premature announcement by France, questioning how Germany would react if France announced the death of Angela Merkel. Bongo's death was confirmed by Prime Minister Jean Eyeghe Ndong in a written statement on 8 June 2009. In his statement, Eyeghe Ndong said that Bongo had died of a heart attack shortly before 12:30 GMT on 8 June. ==Aftermath==

. Period of mourning Rose Francine Rogombé was sworn in as interim president on 10 June 2009, immediately declaring a period of mourning lasting thirty days. Also on hand were Nicolas Sarkozy and Jacques Chirac — the current and former French presidents and the only Western heads of state to attend. The pair arrived in a stretch limousine and were quickly escorted inside the palace as a group of people outside yelled, "No to France!" Sarkozy and Chirac later approached the coffin together and stood before it with their eyes lowered. They laid down a wreath of roses. Then, each signed a condolence book. Chad's President Idriss Déby bowed his head before the coffin. Cameroon's Paul Biya placed a wreath of flowers at the foot of the coffin, as did Burkina Faso's Blaise Compaoré. State funeral A military parade was held to honour Bongo on 16 June 2009. President of the Central African Republic, François Bozizé, arrived in Libreville on 11 June. The Angolan Prime Minister, António Paulo Kassoma, flew to Libreville on 15 June to represent President José Eduardo dos Santos at the funeral. Prince Moulay Rachid of Morocco represented his brother, King Mohammed VI on 16 June. The French president Nicolas Sarkozy attended the funeral, despite a period of diplomatic difficulties between France and Gabon. Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner was also present at the ceremony. Others in attendance at the funeral included President of the Republic of the Congo, == Reactions ==

Acting president Rose Francine Rogombé received the condolences of several world leaders following the death of Bongo. • Cameroonian President Paul Biya sent his condolences to Rose Francine Rogombé, describing Bongo's death as "a great loss" to both Gabon and Africa and saying that Bongo was "an exceptional statesman and prominent political figure who had continuously worked for peace". The media in Cameroon described Bongo as "very friendly and full of good humour", with journalists remembering him affectionately. Members of the general public in Cameroon described Bongo as "a tested politician who tactfully ruled his country and left it in peace". Heads of diplomatic missions at Yaoundé's Gabonese Embassy mourned as did several Gabonese delegations who trooped at the Embassy. • Chinese President Hu Jintao sent a message of condolence "on behalf of the Chinese government and people as well as in his own name" to Rose Francine Rogombe following the death of President Omar Bongo, calling him "a close friend of the Chinese people" and saying that they would "regret losing such a faithful friend". Bongo visited China 11 times during his reign. A 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier between Cameroon and Gabon was postponed by FIFA following Bongo's death, with the Gabonese Football Federation being informed by letter. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) declared a thirty-day period of mourning. declared eight days of mourning; Central African Republic declared seven days of mourning; Benin, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, and São Tomé and Príncipe all declared three days of mourning. Icelandic magazine Iceland Review referenced Bongo's death, calling him an "astute Gabon ruler". ==References==