In a shocking turn of events, the Minister of Foreign Affairs (foreign minister) in Gabon, Michael Moussa Adamo, passed away during a cabinet meeting on Friday. According to a statement released by the government and a presidential source, the 62-year-old experienced a heart attack and despite efforts by specialists, he was unable to be revived.
According to a source close to the presidential palace, Adamo had sat down at the start of the cabinet meeting and began to feel unwell. He was immediately taken to a military hospital, but unfortunately passed away just after midday.
President Ali Bongo Ondimba, who had a close relationship with Adamo, described him on Twitter as “a great diplomat, a true statesman.” He also added, “For me, he was, first of all, a friend, loyal and faithful, whom I could always count on.”
Gabon’s late foreign minister had a long and accomplished career in Gabon’s political scene. Born in 1961 in the northeastern town of Makokou, he began his career as a television presenter before rising through the ranks of Gabon’s political scene.
In 2000, he was appointed as Chief of Staff to the Defense Minister, a position he held under then-Defense Minister Ali Bongo. When Bongo was elected President in 2009, following the death of his father, Omar Bongo Ondimba, Adamo served as his Special Adviser.
After a decade as Gabon’s Ambassador to the United States, Adamo returned to Gabon in 2020 and was appointed as Defense Minister. In March of last year, he was promoted to the position of Foreign Minister.
This sad news of the death of Gabon foreign minister follows the death of Gambia’s Vice President, Badara Alieu Joof, earlier this week due to illness while receiving medical treatment in India.
