Ali-Ben Bongo

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Ali-Ben Bongo Ondimba (born Alain Bernard Bongo on February 9, 1959 in Brazzaville) is the Defence Minister of Gabon. He is the son of President Omar Bongo and Patience Dabany (born Josephine Kama).

After having studied law, he entered politics in the 1980s, and worked in the office of his father. In 1989, while 29 years old, Ali Bongo became the Foreign Minister of Gabon. Two years later, a constitutional amendment setting a minimum age of 35 for ministers resulted in his resignation. He became a member of parliament in 1998 for the Gabonese Democratic Party, and Defence Minister one year later when aged 38. He also has a daughter, Malika Bongo Ondimba, and two sons, Noureddin Edouard Bongo Valentin and Jalil Louis Bongo Valentin.

Ali is also a good musician who often writes songs for his mother Patience Dabany.