This debate is now closed.
How will you remember Omar Bongo?
Africa's longest serving leader, President Omar Bongo, of Gabon, has died aged 73, after four decades in power.
The charismatic figure was popular in the oil rich West African state. He was seen by some as a guarantor of the former French colony's stability.
But critics say his rule has been based on violence and corruption. At time of death, Mr Bongo faced a French inquiry into corruption allegations.
Mr Bongo is believed to be among the world's richest men. But some say he profited unduly from his country's oil boom.
How will you remember President Omar Bongo? Will you mourn his passing? What does the future hold for Gabon without him at the helm? Send us your comments.
Read the main story
If you would like to join Africa Have Your Say to debate this topic LIVE on air on Tuesday 9th June at 1600 GMT, please include a telephone number. It will not be published. You can also send an SMS text message to +44 77 86 20 20 08.
Published:
Monday, 8 June, 2009, 16:11 GMT
17:11 UK
All comments as they come in
Added:
Wednesday, 10 June, 2009, 08:20 GMT
09:20 UK
Sorry, I'm french-speeking and I don't speak well english but I hope you will understand what I'd like to say here.
I wish that my country never has again as chair profoundly malicious and stupid, such a selfish man. Problem is that the clique which it created around him will stay after him and continue sharing the boat by throwing some crumbs to the people.
Loïc, Libreville
|
Added:
Wednesday, 10 June, 2009, 07:33 GMT
08:33 UK
Mr. Bongo was a very bad President and he was cheating the people of Gabon. It is a relief for the people of that country and God has decided to stop the suffering of the poor. The people of Gabon should celebrate this opportunity and think about choosing a better leader. since he has cheated the people , an inquarry should be set after free and fare election so that all his assets and money that he has looted out of Gabon to create his own empire be returned back to the people through.
Getachew Woldemichael, Addis Ababa
|
Added:
Wednesday, 10 June, 2009, 07:22 GMT
08:22 UK
Of course Bongo should be mourned for. Not mourning for him would be a NAIVE act . It cannot be said that the man did totally bad things for Garbon. Umar Bongo will be remembered by me as having made Independent comments like when he said that "France without Africa is like a Vehicle without a Driver and Africa without France is like a Vehicle witout Petrol." I think that was a very meaningful patrontic statement of the Man Bongo and for that matter I cannot forget him.
HADENGHO MOSES, KAMPALA
|
Added:
Wednesday, 10 June, 2009, 07:06 GMT
08:06 UK
Missed as a beacon of stability-That's debatable!
Certainly he lives a rich legacy in a continent where oil can be a curse! You can't fully judge his legacy now & time will surely tell!
Corrupt? MY FOOT! The FRENCH CALLING THE KETTLE BLACK!
Who funded the bribes? Who benefited from them? SUDDENLY the French ve discovered this ILL WEALTH? It surely has taken them LONG TO INVESTIGATE!
We hope Gabon will pick up & build on their present state for the better of ALL her people PEACEFULLY!
Joe, Nairobi, Kenya
|
Added:
Wednesday, 10 June, 2009, 05:14 GMT
06:14 UK
I would like to say that who ever dies in this world gets remembered of what he did.And in this sense, he would didnt do it alone but with his "followers". So there is no question why he should't be remembered. Whether on the bad issues he did, then it will be a lesson to his predicessors to try to avoid them for the good of their subjects. His political,economical,social and judicial failures will all be used now to create a good way of governance from autocracy Let nostone be left unturned
Mugume Nelson Teeta, Baghdad
|
Added:
Wednesday, 10 June, 2009, 05:13 GMT
06:13 UK
Well, for me, i would say nobody related to death, for the President Bongo to learn the lesson, he could has been trial in the court of law before his death, too late to talk about him now, however, the question is this: what's wrong with French colony in Africa? the African countries which were colonist by french are the most unstable/lawless in the continent.
Ruben Abot Chuol-tor, Melbourne, Australia
|
Added:
Wednesday, 10 June, 2009, 03:43 GMT
04:43 UK
Death comes to all of us at some time or the other. I feel sorry for the children, losing their mother less than 3 months ago. It will be a very difficutl time for them.
[Phil38Female], London, United Kingdom
|
Added:
Wednesday, 10 June, 2009, 03:25 GMT
04:25 UK
Besides the French, his family, and his cronies, no one will miss Omar Bongo, who epitomized sycophancy and corruption at their lowest forms. It is to be expected that political instability will follow his death, and Gabon will soon have its contingent of U.N peacekeepers.
Max A. Joseph Jr, Brooklyn, NY, USA
|
Added:
Wednesday, 10 June, 2009, 01:16 GMT
02:16 UK
Dear BBC, I am in deeper sarrows for the death of our longer african Leader , late President Omar Bongo, may his soul rest in perfect peace, Omar, africa will ever remember you, you are a true son of the Africa. Adolphus Harris
Adolphus Harris, kansa city U S A
|
Added:
Tuesday, 9 June, 2009, 23:27 GMT
00:27 UK
Omar Bongo was not different from the many present African Leaders who think that the countries' wealth is the property of their families and cronies. His death should be a clear message to his colleagues that even heads of states are not immortal. As they plunder the wealth of their countries and leave the majority of their citizens living in abject poverty. They might be powerful today but the day of reconnning is not very far. Will western banks restitute the wealth that he stored abroad?
Collins Bakia, Lexington Kentucky
|
Added:
Tuesday, 9 June, 2009, 23:23 GMT
00:23 UK
I ONLY HOPE I CAN BLAME AFRICAN THE LEADERS AGAIN. LOOK AT WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE IN ENGLAND ABOUT WHAT OUR MP'S IN PARLIAMENT ARE DOING IN LONDON.
NOW WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OMAR BONGO, OTHER POLITICAL LEADERS IN AFRICA AND POLITICAL LEADERS IN UNITED KINGDOM.
LOOKING AT GEORGE W BUSH'S AND ODER LEADERS IN THE WESTERN COUNTRIES, I SEE NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE AFRICAN LEADERS AND THE POLITICAL LEADERS OF TODAY'S WORLD.
IT IS ALL ABOUT SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST. D.K.B
DAVID KANKAM BOADU, LONDON
|
Added:
Tuesday, 9 June, 2009, 23:09 GMT
00:09 UK
good morning i feel very happy today , but why happy? because the numbers of dictators in africa are diminishing in their numbers. i wish it could be a chain reaction ,which will move into neighbouring countries like cameroon and God knows which next, atleast omar bongo's dead is a great news ,. atleast the Gabonese pupil might certainly experience a transition. i pray and wish the best for them, hoping they donot led Gabon be transformed into a monarchy by patrilineal succession.
ndifor andy, quebec canada
|
Added:
Tuesday, 9 June, 2009, 21:28 GMT
22:28 UK
Bongo is another creation of the neocolonialists. There is no difference between him and Mobutu and Mugabe. What matters here is not Bongo but how dismantle the corrupt system he created in Gabon. It may take years but nobody can subgate human spirit forever. Mwanahewa.
MUGAMBI ARIMI, ASHLAND, United States
|
Added:
Tuesday, 9 June, 2009, 21:27 GMT
22:27 UK
This calls for sober reflection on the part of African leaders.They should ask themselves are we leading our people right.And we have to ask our leaders sit tight syndrome does no good to our society.
Arinze Ngwube, Lagos
|
Added:
Tuesday, 9 June, 2009, 20:50 GMT
21:50 UK
Why don't you tell me. His country is awash in oil wealth and yet as the leader of a 'sovereign' state he died in Spain like a deposed leader exiled to irrelevance, while still head of Gabon. So, is this a man that deserves to be praised?Even he didn't trust his OWN nation enough to seek medical care there. Expect news of Yar'dua's death in Germany shortly.
Seun zsl, Maryland, United States
|
|
This Have Your Say is
CLOSED
DEBATE STATUS
Total comments: 367
Published comments: 273
Rejected comments: 94
From Have Your Say
|