Editing History of Gabon (section)

==Modern times==
President Bongo coasted to easy re-elections in [[Gabonese presidential election, 1998|December 1998]] and [[Gabonese presidential election, 2005|November 2005]], with large majorities of the vote against a divided opposition. While Bongo's major opponents rejected the outcome as fraudulent, some international observers characterized the results as representative despite any perceived irregularities. Legislative elections held in 2001–2002, which were boycotted by a number of smaller opposition parties and were widely criticized for their administrative weaknesses, produced a National Assembly almost completely dominated by the PDG and allied independents.

Omar Bongo died at a Spanish hospital on 8 June 2009.<ref>[http://www.rfi.fr/actuen/articles/114/article_3968.asp "Bongo's son appeals for calm as country goes into mourning"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190108050049/http://www1.rfi.fr/actuen/articles/114/article_3968.asp |date=2019-01-08 }}, Radio France Internationale, 9 June 2009.</ref>

His son [[Ali Bongo Ondimba]] was elected president in the [[Gabonese presidential election, 2009|August 2009 presidential election]].<ref name=Poll>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140131052552/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iRwYhEOaEA0l4a-x2t1jAqOszcDg "Bongo's son to be Gabon candidate in August poll"], AFP, 16 July 2009.</ref> He was re-elected in [[Gabonese presidential election, 2016|August 2016]], in elections marred by numerous irregularities, arrests, human rights violations and post-election violence.<ref name=Unrest>[https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gkdcOASO9nPzyCXOdnE5wmPfq0nAD9AG1AMG2 "Unrest as dictator's son declared winner in Gabon"]{{dead link|date=June 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}, Associated Press, 3 September 2009.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/humanrightsreport/index.htm?year=2016&dlid=265256#wrapper|title=Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2016|website=www.state.gov|access-date=2017-07-11}}</ref>

On 24 October 2018, Ali Bongo Ondimbao was hospitalized in [[Riyadh]] for an undisclosed illness. On 29 November 2018 Bongo was transferred to a military hospital in Rabat to continue recovery.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.africanews.com/2018/12/06/president-bongo-is-well-gabon-premier/|title=Top govt officials visit 'recovering' Gabon president in Morocco|last=AfricaNews|date=5 December 2018|website=Africanews|access-date=7 January 2019}}</ref> On 9 December 2018 it was reported by Gabon's Vice President [[Pierre Claver Maganga Moussavou|Moussavou]] that Bongo suffered a stroke in Riyadh and has since left the hospital in [[Rabat]] and is currently recovering at a private residence in Rabat.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/world/africa/2018-12-09-gabons-ali-bongo-suffered-a-stroke-says-vice-president/|title=Gabon's Ali Bongo suffered a stroke, says vice-president|website=www.businesslive.co.za|access-date=7 January 2019|archive-date=2019-04-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410094417/https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/world/africa/2018-12-09-gabons-ali-bongo-suffered-a-stroke-says-vice-president/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Since 24 October 2018 Bongo has not been seen in public and due to lack of evidence that he is either alive or dead many have speculated if he is truly alive or not.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/12/president-ali-bongo-of-gabon-down-with-stroke/|title=President Ali Bongo of Gabon down with stroke|last=adekunle|date=10 December 2018|access-date=7 January 2019}}</ref> On 1 January 2019 Bongo gave his first public address via a video posted to social media since falling ill in October 2018 putting to rest any rumours he was dead.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.africanews.com/2019/01/01/i-am-now-fine-ali-bongo-tells-gabonese-in-new-year-message/|title='I am now fine': Ali Bongo tells Gabonese in New Year message|date=January 1, 2019|website=Africanews}}</ref>

On 7 January 2019, soldiers in Gabon launched an unsuccessful [[2019 Gabonese coup d'etat|coup d’etat attempt]].<ref>{{Cite web|title='Under control': Gabon foils coup attempt|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/1/7/under-control-gabon-foils-coup-attempt|access-date=2021-11-04|website=www.aljazeera.com|language=en}}</ref>

On May 11, 2021, a [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] delegation visited Gabon as Ali Bongo visited London to meet with the secretary general of the organization, which brings together 54 English-speaking countries. President Bongo expressed Gabon's willingness to join the Commonwealth.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.channelafrica.co.za/sabc/home/channelafrica/news/details?id=76038782-dc88-4f60-bcc3-eb67b7988cae&title=Gabon%20seeks%20to%20join%20Commonwealth| title = Gabon seeks to join Commonwealth - CHANNELAFRICA}}</ref><ref>https://www.marketwatch.com/press-release/gabon-expresses-intent-to-join-commonwealth-2021-05-11?mod=news_archive {{Dead link|date=January 2022}}</ref> In June 2022, Gabon joined the Commonwealth  as its 55th member.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gabon and Togo join the Commonwealth |url=https://thecommonwealth.org/news/gabon-and-togo-join-commonwealth |website=Commonwealth |language=en}}</ref>

In August 2023, following the announcement that Ali Bongo had won a third term in the [[2023 Gabonese general election|general election]], military officers announced that they had taken power in a [[2023 Gabonese coup d'état|coup d'état]] and cancelled the election results. They also dissolved state institutions including the Judiciary, Parliament and the constitutional assembly.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gabon military officers claim power, say election lacked credibility |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/8/30/gabon-military-officers-claim-power-say-election-lacked-credibility |access-date=2023-08-30 |website=www.aljazeera.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=2023-08-30 |title=Gabonese military officers announce they have seized power of oil-rich country |publisher=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/gabonese-military-officers-announce-they-have-seized-power-2023-08-30/ |access-date=2023-08-30}}</ref> On 31 August 2023, army officers who seized power, ending the Bongo family's 55-year hold on power, named Gen [[Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema|Brice Oligui Nguema]] as the country's transitional leader.<ref>{{cite news |title=Gabon coup leaders name Gen Brice Oligui Nguema as new leader |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-66666585 |work=BBC News |date=31 August 2023}}</ref> On 4 September 2023, General Nguema was sworn in as interim president of Gabon.<ref>{{cite news |title=Gabon coup leader Brice Nguema vows free elections - but no date |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-66705693 |work=BBC News |date=4 September 2023}}</ref>