Ali Bongo Ondimba

Who is Ali Bongo Ondimba?

Ali Bongo Ondimba is a Gabonese politician who has been President of Gabon since October 2009.

Bongo is the son of Omar Bongo, who was President of Gabon from 1967 until his death in 2009. During his father's presidency, he was Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1989 to 1991 and represented Bongoville as a Deputy in the National Assembly from 1991 to 1999; subsequently he was Minister of Defense from 1999 to 2009. He was the candidate of the Gabonese Democratic Party in the August 2009 presidential election, which followed his father's death. According to official results, he won the election with 42% of the vote. Bongo is also President of the PDG.