The wealthy, dynastic leader of Gabon who believed he could resist a coup

President of Gabon Ali Bongo Ondimba addressed the UN General Assembly last year (Mary Altaffer/AP)

The president of Gabon, Ali Bongo Ondimba, knew well the threat of military coups in his part of the world. But he swore one would not happen to him.

“While our continent has been shaken in recent weeks by violent crises, rest assured that I will never allow you and our country Gabon to be hostages to attempts at destabilisation. Never,” he declared this month as it marked 60 years of independence from France, almost all of that time with his family in power.