Alain Bernard Bongo aka Ali-Ben Bongo Ondimba President of Gabon as of September 2009Son of the late President Omar Bongo and Patience Dabany, Alain Bernard Bongo was born in Brazzaville February 9, 1959.
After obtaining a law degree in France, Ali Bongo made debut in the political circle by joining PDG in 1981. He was elected to PDG's Central Committee in 1983 and entered PDG's Political Bureauin 1984. Two years later, he was elected to the Political Bureau
After obtaining a law degree in France, Ali Bongo made debut in the political circle by joining PDG in 1981. He was elected to PDG's Central Committee in 1983 and entered PDG's Political Bureauin 1984. Two years later, he was elected to the Political Bureau
Ali Bongo took the post of minister of foreign affairs and cooperation in the Gabonese government in 1989. He resigned from the post in 1991 when the country's new constitution stipulated that any minister serving in the government must be at least at the age of 35. In 1996, Ali Bongo made a comeback to the Gabonese government becoming the president of the Higher Council of Islamic Affairs of Gabon. In the parliamentary election in December 1996, he was again elected as a PDG candidate in Haut-Ogooue Province.
Like father like son
Ali Bongo Ondimba with his father the late President Omar Bongo Ondimba
Ali Bongo was named as minister of national defense on Jan. 25,1999. He was promoted to the rank of minister of state in January 2006 while still keeping the job of defense chief. In September 2008, Ali Bongo was reelected as a vice president of PDG. On July 19, 2009, the ruling PDG chief Faustin Boukoubi officially nominated Ali Bongo the party's presidential candidate. Ali Bongo was dismissed as minister of national defense by interim president Rose Francine Rogombe so as to contest in the presidential election on an equal footing with other candidates. He focused the campaign on his platform of peace, development and equality.
Like father like sonAli Bongo Ondimba with his father the late President Omar Bongo Ondimba
Ali Bongo was named as minister of national defense on Jan. 25,1999. He was promoted to the rank of minister of state in January 2006 while still keeping the job of defense chief. In September 2008, Ali Bongo was reelected as a vice president of PDG. On July 19, 2009, the ruling PDG chief Faustin Boukoubi officially nominated Ali Bongo the party's presidential candidate. Ali Bongo was dismissed as minister of national defense by interim president Rose Francine Rogombe so as to contest in the presidential election on an equal footing with other candidates. He focused the campaign on his platform of peace, development and equality.
Ali Bongo Ondimba, the son of late president Omar Bongo Ondimba and the former defense minister of Gabon, garnered 141,952 votes, accounting for 41.93 percent of the total votes in August 2009 presidential election, followed by independent candidate Andre Mba Obame with 25.88 percent of the votes. The opposition candidate Pierre Mamboundou was placed as the third with 25.22 percent of the votes.ALI BEN BONGO ONDIMBA PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS CAMPAIGN
"If the Gabonese place the trust in me and elect me to the head of state, I certainly will not stay 40 years, rest assured." Ali Ben quoted by local media saying he would not seek to remain in power forever.
"We are going to jealously guard the peace which was left behind by the late president Omar Bongo Ondimba while stressing on durable development and the equitable distribution of resources toall the people," he said to the local population in the western province of Estuaire during his campaign.
Ali Bongo also announced to reform the education system and improve the professional training while taking into account the state potential and the market needs if he is elected.
"Our duty will be to create jobs all over," he said while promising to never interfere with the work of the two parliamentary chambers, the senate and the national assembly, in which his party has the majority representation.
ALI BONGO ONDIMBA HOBBIES
Ali Bongo Ondimba rapping and dancing (I must admit he is pretty good;-)
Ali Bongo Ondimba rapping and dancing (I must admit he is pretty good;-)
While he owes his political career to his father, who he says he has to thank for "giving him the genes of responsibility, dignity and honour", his mother gave him his passion for music. She is the Gabonese singer and musician Patience Dabany, who unofficially oversees his relations with the media. According to the French newspaper Le Monde, Ali Bongo's career looked likely to take a musical bent until he joined the cabinet in 1989 and shed his image as a party-goer. He says he plays the piano and drums - has composed jazz, some Brazilian bossa novas and did the soundtrack for a Gabonese film released 10 years ago.Source BBC
In February 1992, he organized a visit by American pop singer Michael Jackson to Gabon.
In February 1992, he organized a visit by American pop singer Michael Jackson to Gabon.
A FOOTBALL FAN AT HEART
Ali Bongo is football fan and a passionate fan of the Spanish club Real Madrid. Ali Bongo practices almost every Sunday at his home with his military security guards and family. Ali longs to see the Gabon national football team win the Africa Cup of Nations.ALI BEN'S FAMILY
Sylvia Bongo Ondimba, Gabons new First Lady was born in 1963 in Paris, France and spent most of her childhood growing up in Africa.
Ali Bongo is married to Sylvia Ajma Valentin, his second wife. They have four children: a daughter, Malika Bongo Ondimba and three sons Noureddin Bongo Ondimba, Jalil Bongo Ondimba and Bilal Bongo Ondimba who was adopted by the couple in 2002.
INGE BONGO, ALI BEN BONGO'S FIRST WIFE
Ali Ben Bongo Ondimba and Inge Bongo wedding dayAli Bongo first wife Inge Bongo a native of the United States of America currently resides in California. Inge is still legally married to Ali Bongo.
Source:bvblackspin.com
Source:bvblackspin.com
MEET THE PARENTS
FATHER, THE LATE PRESIDENT OMAR BONGO ODIMBA
MOTHER DEAREST
Patience Dabany aka Marie Joséphine KamaPatience Dabany (born 22 January 1944, Brazzaville, Congo) is a Gabonese singer and musician. She was previously married to Omar Bongo Ondimba, President of Gabon, from 1959 to 1986.
In 1958, she met Albert-Bernard Bongo, a young Gabonese student. At just 15 years of age, she married Albert on 31 October 1959. They had two children: a son Alain Bernard Bongo (9 February 1959) and a daughter, the late Albertine Amissa Bongo (1964–1993). Marie Josephine Kama, later known as Josephine Bongo, was the first lady of Gabon. She and her then-husband founded the Gabonese Democratic Party. She became involved in many social projects, including the promotion of women's rights, charities for children, etc. Working with culture he created the musical group dedicated to the Gabonese Democratic Party, Kounabeli (Superstars), where she performed as lead singer.
In 1986 Joséphine and Albert Bongo divorced. Marie embarked on a career as a professional artist, under her new name, Patience Dabany. Her first album, Levekisha, was a great success in Gabon and in many African countries. Source:wikipedia
Good luck in the new job!http://www.ali9.org
bvblackspin.com
Interesting. Good to see information all in one place.
ReplyDeleteI doubt very much President Ali Bongo will keep to his promise not to stay in power forever!
African leaders are notorious for hanging on to power; I am sure there are other younger talented politicians out there who would do just as well "creating jobs," etc. The truth of the matter is that in Africa, we take one step forward and two steps backward.
Mama Shujaa.