Gabon President Ali Bongo, Down With Stroke

President Ali Bongo of Gabon who has been in hospital since October has suffered a stroke.

Vice-President Pierre Claver Maganga Moussavou provided the first official details of the President’s illness.

The 59-year-old leader left hospital in Morocco earlier this month and is recovering at a private residence in the capital Rabat after weeks of silence about his condition.

Moussavou said President Bongo had suffered a cerebrovascular accident or CVA, commonly known as a stroke.

“Nobody should rejoice over the death or illness of another, those who have never known a CVA, pray to God that they never know one,” Mr Moussavou said in a speech in Franceville in the south of the country.

“I would not wish it on anyone, not even my worst enemy.”

A lack of official news after President Bongo fell ill at an economic forum in Saudi Arabia on October 24 sparked speculation the Gabonese leader was incapacitated or even dead.