Omar Bongo, Gabon’s president, one of Africa’s wealthiest men and historically a linchpin of French interests on the continent, died on Monday in a Spanish hospital at the age of 73.

On Sunday night, French media reports suggested that Africa’s longest-serving ruler had died. Ending 24 hours of speculation in which Mr Bongo’s death was first reported, then denied, Jean Eyeghe Ndong, the country’s prime minister, announced the death in a written statement on Monday evening.