How the 'emirate' of Gabon squandered its oil wealth under 55 years of Bongo rule

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The toppling of Ali Bongo Ondimba brought the curtain down on 55 years of rule by a family accused of extracting fabulous wealth from Gabon's major oil reserves.

Moments after being declared the winner in disputed elections, Bongo was abruptly ousted on 30 August.Gabon, one of Africa's richest countries in terms of per-capita GDP, boasts abundant oil and other natural resources.

Gabon is either the second or third biggest manganese producer depending on the mineral's concentration. Independence from France in 1960 was followed by an oil boom but today,"the country is struggling to translate large natural wealth into sustainable and inclusive growth", the World Bank says. Coup leader and now transitional president General Brice Oligui Nguema on Tuesday announced an inquiry into public works spendings"to detect any irregularity or potential fraud".

Ten of Omar Bongo's 54 children have been charged with allegedly concealing the misappropriation of public funds, a Paris-based legal source told AFP.The empire includes property in Paris and the Mediterranean resort of Nice, alongside a fleet of luxury cars.

 

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