President Nicholas Sarkozy of France to attend Omar Bongo’s Funeral

Nikolas Sarkozy along with foreign dignitaries will join the leaders of up to a dozen other African nations to mourn the passing of Gabon’s president, Omar Bongo Ondimba.

The French president is slated to fly in to Libreville, Tuesday June 16 in time for the start of funeral proceedings that will lead up to the late president’s burial on Thursday June 18.

Sarkozy’s presence at the funeral negates claims that the relationship between the two nations, France and Gabon, had been permanently marred after a formal enquiry on corruption charges was made by a French Judge on Bongo’s investments abroad.

“It is a big and faithful friend of France who has died, a great African figure and a president who knew how to show esteem and respect to all his peers, particularly for his numerous initiatives for peace on the African continent”
says French president Nikolas Sarkozy.

Elsewhere around the world, Gabonese communities living abroad are all voicing their solidarity with the nation during this great loss. The Gabonese community in France welcomes well wishers to attend the church service in honor of the late president, Omar Bongo. The service will take place on June 19 at 18h15 at the following address:

Cathedrale Notre Dame 6,
parvis Notre-Dame Place JEAN-PAUL II,
75004 Paris.