Bongo, Omar b. December 30, 1935 d. June 8, 2009 President of Gabon. Born Albert Bernard Bongo, he was one of 12 children of a peasant farming family in the Bateke region of southeast Gabon; his father died when he was seven years old. After school in Brazzaville in the Congo, his path upward began in the colonial military she he joined the French Air Force where he was said to be the first black man to serve in the force in Chad. He was appointed director in the president's office in 1962, at age 27. Then in 1964 renegade soldiers arrested...[Read More] (Bio by: Fred Beisser) Mausoleum of Franceville, Franceville, Haut-Ogooue, Gabon
b. December 30, 1935 d. June 8, 2009