"He was a very great diplomat, a true statesman. For me, he was first of all a friend, loyal and faithful, whom I could always count on," said Bongo on Twitter.
Three government sources said that the 62-year-old Adamo was in a council of ministers meeting when he suffered the cardiac attack. He was rushed to the hospital and died shortly after midday despite specialist treatment, said a government statement.
Reacting to his death, President Bongo described Moussa Adamo on Twitter as "a great diplomat, a true statesman".
"To me, he was firstly a friend, loyal and faithful, on whom I have always been able to count. It's a huge loss for Gabon," he added.
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, defense minister and then foreign minister in March last year.
British non-resident Ambassador to Gabon Christian Dennys-McClure praised Adamo, saying “My deepest condolences on the passing of HE Michael Moussa Adamo. He was a true friend of the UK. Our prayers go out to his family, the Gabonese government and the Gabonese people.”
UN Resident Coordinator for Gabon Savina Ammassari stated "“It is with great sadness that I have just learned of the death of HE Michael Moussa Adamo, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Gabon. On behalf of the United Nations, I offer my sincere condolences to the bereaved family.”
Ali Bongo Ondimba, who suffered a stroke in October 2018 that kept him away from politics for months, has not yet declared his candidacy for a third term.
It is widely expected he will throw his hat into the ring, as his all-powerful Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG) has repeatedly announced he is its "natural candidate."
This report was prepared using data from Agence France-Presse and from "Euroweeklynews.com"
