The government and the president in Gabon have confirmed that Foreign Minister Michael Moussa Adamo passed away from a heart attack during a cabinet meeting on Friday. He was 62.
“Our Minister of Foreign Affairs, Michael Moussa Adamo, left today,” said Ali Bongo Ondimba, President of Gabon.
“He was a very great diplomat, a true statesman. For me, he was first of all a friend, loyal and faithful, on whom I could always count. This is a huge loss for the Gabon. RIP,” he concluded.
Notre ministre des Affaires étrangères, Michael Moussa Adamo, s’en est allé ce jour.
Il était un très grand diplomate, un véritable homme d’Etat.
Pour moi, il était d’abord un ami, loyal et fidèle, sur lequel j’ai toujours pu compter.
C’est une perte immense pour le #Gabon.#RIP— Ali Bongo Ondimba (@PresidentABO) January 20, 2023
According to reports, he had a heart attack during a cabinet meeting. The government released a statement saying that despite professional treatment, he was brought to the hospital and died around noon.
Moussa Adamo was the special advisor to Gabon’s president, Ali Bongo Ondimba, and the country’s ambassador to the United States for a decade.
Peninsula Qatar reported:
Moussa Adamo, 62, an ally of President Ali Bongo Ondimba, suffered a heart attack and died “despite efforts by specialists” to revive him, the government said in a brief statement.
He “had sat down at the start of the cabinet meeting and began to feel unwell”, a source close to the presidential palace told AFP.
Moussa Adamo was born in the northeastern town of Makokou in 1961 and started out as a presenter on national television.
In 2000, he was made chief of staff for the defence minister, who at the time was Bongo.
When Bongo was elected president on the death of his father Omar Bongo Ondimba in 2009, Moussa Adamo served as his special advisor.
After a decade as Gabon’s ambassador to the United States until 2020, he became, first, defence minister and then foreign minister in March last year.
Tributes flood in following the news of his sudden death:
I have learned with deep sorrow the passing away of my dear friend #Gabonese Foreign Minister Michael Moussa-Adamo.
Extend my heartfelt condolences to his bereaved family & people of #Gabon.
May Allah bless his soul. 🇹🇷🇬🇦 pic.twitter.com/CMvtcdI3Af
— Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu (@MevlutCavusoglu) January 20, 2023
Saddened to hear of the passing of Michael Moussa Adamo, Foreign Minister of Gabon🇬🇦.
My condolences to his family and friends, and the Government of Gabon. pic.twitter.com/XY5l5zGO1Z
— UN GA President (@UN_PGA) January 20, 2023
Oh Lord!!!Michaël Moussa Adamo my brother and friend, May The Good Lord poor on you His mercy and have you by his side. My deepest sympathy and unwavering support to His love one and family at this time of sorrow. My sincere condolences to people of #Gabon. @PresidenceGA pic.twitter.com/QRIFBSRJe3
— Robert Dussey (@rdussey) January 20, 2023
C’est avec une immense tristesse que j’ai appris le décès de mon ami Michael Moussa Adamo, Ministre des Affaires Etrangères du Gabon.
Le Gabon perd un grand ministre, la France un grand ami.
Mes condoléances à ses proches et au peuple gabonais.@PresidentABO pic.twitter.com/naDEbnmZNK
— Chrysoula Zacharopoulou 🇪🇺🇫🇷 (@CZacharopoulou) January 20, 2023
Shocked and extremely saddened to hear of the untimely demise of my dear friend Michael Moussa Adamo, Foreign Minister of #Gabon.
My deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. And to the Government of Gabon on this loss.
I will miss his friendship and wise advise. pic.twitter.com/ywNizXarJw
— Abdulla Shahid (@abdulla_shahid) January 20, 2023
