Ali Bongo Ondimba Biography, Education, Career, Controversies, And Net Worth

Maria Olanrewaju | September 1, 2023 | Find It | No Comments

Ali Bongo Ondimba, born Alain Bernard Bongo on February 9, 1959, in Brazzaville, French Equatorial Africa (now Congo-Brazzaville), was a Gabonese politician who served as the third president of Gabon from October 16, 2009, to August 30, 2023. He was a member of the Gabonese Democratic Party and succeeded his father, Omar Bongo, as president.

Ali Bongo Ondimba Profile

Name	Ali Bongo
Real Name	Ali Bongo Ondimba
Date of Birth	9 February 1959
Age	64 years
Nationality	Gabonese
Occupation	Politician
Religion	Islam
Marital Status	Married
Net Worth	$25 Million
Copied from	contents101.com

Educational Background

Ali Bongo was educated at a private school in Neuilly, France, and studied law at the Sorbonne. He received an honorary doctorate of law degree from Wuhan University in China in 2018.

Career

Ali Bongo Ondimba’s early political career was closely linked to the Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG). He joined the party in 1981 and steadily rose through its ranks. In 1983, he was elected to the PDG Central Committee at the party’s Third Extraordinary Congress. He became his father’s Personal Representative to the PDG and joined the PDG Political Bureau in 1984. He continued to climb the party hierarchy, eventually becoming a vice-president of the PDG at the party’s Eighth Ordinary Congress in July 2003.

Bongo’s entry into government came in 1989 when his father appointed him as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, a position he held until 1991. After a constitutional amendment set a minimum age of 35 for ministers, he transitioned to the National Assembly in 1991, serving as a Deputy. He later became President of the Higher Council of Islamic Affairs of Gabon in 1996.

In 1999, he was appointed Minister of National Defense and retained this role until his father’s death in 2009. During this period, he played a significant role in Gabon’s defense and military affairs.

Following his father’s death in 2009, Ali Bongo ran for the presidency as the PDG candidate. He won the election with 42% of the vote after a recount, and he was inaugurated as the President of Gabon on October 16, 2009.

Bongo’s presidency saw both continuity and change from his father’s rule. He initiated various reforms and emphasized issues such as combating corruption and promoting economic growth. However, his presidency was also marred by allegations of electoral fraud, human rights violations, and political instability.

In the years that followed, Bongo’s leadership faced challenges. His health issues, including a stroke in 2018, raised concerns about his ability to govern. The 2023 Gabonese general election and subsequent coup d’état marked a significant turning point in his career, leading to his removal from power.

Controversies

Ali Bongo’s presidency was marked by controversies, including allegations of irregularities and human rights violations during the 2016 elections. The 2023 Gabonese general election was also marred by claims of fraud and a subsequent coup d’état that led to his ousting from power.

Ali Bongo Ondimba Social Media Handles

Ali Bongo Ondimba is on Facebook @Ali Bongo Ondimba.

Personal Life

Ali Bongo married Sylvia Valentin in 1989, and they had four children together: Malika, Noureddin, Jalil, and Bilal. In 1994, he married Inge Lynn Collins Bongo. His family life was intertwined with politics, as his wife Sylvia’s family had connections within Gabonese businesses and government.