If you’re going to be a successful corrupt dictator of a developing nation, its really all about strategy. Sure, its easy for a Robert Mugabe to parade around Harare with thousands of American dollars being spent on his 196th birthday, but the world is watching. Political leaders would be taking severe risks in negotiating, trading or even shaking hands with the man. No, truly the way to stay in power can be summed up in two word - low-key.

Such is the case for Gabon’s President Omar Bongo. Haven’t heard of him? Good. He’d like it to stay that way.

The inscription printed in pure gold on a commemorative stamp issued by the Gabonese Post Office in January reads: ‘Omar Bongo Ondimba. 41 years of peace.’ Indeed, the President has enjoyed relative calm at the helm of this tiny oil, timber and uranium-producing country since he first came to power in 1967. 

In fact, even Bongo’s staunchest critics credit the 72-year old leader with political wisdom, most notably for his keeping a lid on potential ethnic divisions. Truly and unequivocally, defeating threats of tribalism is indeed worthy of some degree of admiration.

However, those same critics, and a number of powerful voices in the international corporate community recognize what continues to keep Bongo in power - a combination of violence and corruption.

The first wave of violence happened in the 1970s when several opposition members were killed. In 1990, the mysterious death of opposition leader Joseph Redjambe sparked riots that threatened the regime for days. 

To ensure peace, the President wielded his greatest asset: money. It is money that helped silence critics and indeed fuel friendships abroad, most notably with France, its former colonial power.

It has become increasingly clear that Pierre Mamboundou, leader of the Union for the People of Gabon (UPC), has joined the long list of former political opponents turned suddenly quiet. The former firebrand makes no secret today that the President pledged to give him $21.5 million for the development of his constituency, Ndende. With no less than four deputy prime ministers and a senate with more seats than that of the United States, there are a plethora of well-paid places in Gabon’s government for cronies and ‘former’ opponents.

The wealth of Bongo is perhaps one of the most shocking secret of them all - he is believed to be on the world’s richest men. In 2007, a police investigation in to real estate owned by the President and his family in France disclosed 33 properties in Paris and Nice worth an estimated $190 million. It has also been reported that the Gabonese President held $130 million in Citibank accounts. There was no doubt that these assets were sourced in the public finances of Gabon.

However, tiny cracks are beginning to erode the Gabonese system for the President. Along with depleted oil reserves, the wealth that helped Bongo consolidate his grip on power through patronage is generating newer waves of criticism which is starting to again unsettle the regime. Both Bongo and his daughter have been accused by new critics of ruling their country “as their private property with an eye on succession to the throne“.

The government responded in true corrupt developing nation kind: four anti-corruption campaigners and a journalist were arrested without warrant and charged with destabilizing the state through propaganda. After protests from American senators, the campaigners were released within a week’s time. Ben-Moubama, a member of the Free Gabonese Civil Society Network, stated that “we are back in a single-party regime. The only means of resistance for the Gabonese people is to go on strike and not to vote in elections“.

So, to review, increasing political risk through civil unrest and a slow but steady shortage of once prosperous national resources, led by a corrupt dictator using his nation’s funds as a private account, and looking to pass down the crown to his daughter upon an end of leadership date of his choosing.

Maybe it was better not to know much about Gabon after all…at least, until the ageing autocrat’s time is up.