Page "Omar Bongo" Paragraph 14

The next day, 23 May 1990, a vocal critic of Bongo, Joseph Rendjambe, was found dead in a hotel, reportedly murdered by poison.

The death of Rendjambe, a prominent business executive and secretary-general of the opposition group Parti gabonais du progres ( PGP ), touched off the worst rioting in Bongo's 23-year rule.

Presidential buildings in Libreville were set on fire and the French consul-general and ten oil company employees were taken hostage.

French troops evacuated foreigners and a state of emergency was declared in Port Gentil, Rendjambe's hometown and a strategic oil production site.

During this emergency Gabon's two main oil producers, Elf and Shell, cut output from to 20, 000.

Bongo threatened to withdraw their exploration licenses unless they restored normal output, which they soon did.

France sent in 500 troops to reinforce the 500-man battalion of Marines permanently stationed in Gabon " to protect the interests of 20, 000 resident French nationals ".

Tanks and troops were deployed around the presidential palace to halt rioters.