News24.com | Gabon\'s president makes 1st public appearance since illness

Gabon's president makes 1st public appearance since illness

2018-12-04 18:04
Morocco's King Mohamed VI (L) visiting Gabon's President Ali Bongo at the military hospital in the capital Rabat. (AFP)

Morocco's King Mohamed VI (L) visiting Gabon's President Ali Bongo at the military hospital in the capital Rabat. (AFP)

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Gabon's government has released a video showing President Ali Bongo Ondimba meeting with Morocco's king in his first public appearance since Bongo fell ill in October.

The video shared late on Monday shows the men sitting and chatting in front of their national flags as King Mohammed VI visited Bongo, who is recovering at a Rabat hospital.

The 59-year-old president was hospitalised October 24 in Saudi Arabia. Gabon's government said he suffered dizziness, but some media reports suggested he'd had a stroke.

Bongo was transferred last week to Morocco to convalesce. His government says he thanked the king for welcoming him.

Bongo has ruled the oil-rich Central African nation since 2009, assuming power in a contested election after the death of his father, who had ruled since 1967.

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