Page "Jean-Hilaire Aubame" Paragraph 2

Despite a rivalry, Aubame and M ' ba, now the President of Gabon, formed several political unions which were sufficiently politically balanced to appeal to the electorate.

In appreciation for his help, M ' ba appointed Aubame as foreign minister and later President of the Supreme Court.

Tensions soon rose between the two due to Aubame's refusal to merge his party with M ' ba's and create a single-party state.

Aubame was installed as President of Gabon during a 1964 coup d ' état against M ' ba.

However, the coup was toppled three days later, and although he did not participate in the coup's planning, Aubame was sentenced to 10 years of hard labor and 10 years of exile.

He was beaten almost daily by his prison guards while serving out his sentence.

M ' ba's successor as President, Omar Bongo, allowed the return of Aubame to Gabon in 1972.

The elder politician died in 1989 in Gabon's capital of Libreville.