Politician. He served as the first Prime Minister of Gabon from May 21, 1957 to February 21, 1967. He also served as the first President of Gabon from February 12, 1961 until his death in office from cancer on November 28, 1967, a few days after taking his presidential oath at the Gabonese embassy in Paris. He had won this election without any opposition. From the 12th to 21st February, he concurrently held the posts of Prime Minister and President of Gabon. Born a member of the Fang-Beti ethnic group from the Congo, his parents were educated and they had a comfortable lifestyle. He attended Roman Catholic schools. After entering the work force, he became in the French colonial administration as a customs agent. Being outspoken, he was fast to defend other Fangs. in December of 1922, he was sentenced to prison after having committed a minor crime of providing a colleague with falsified documents. After being released, he became more involved with the Fangs, accepting many of their traditions. He was associated with the French Communist Party. In 1931, though little evidence for conviction, for his involvement with a murder of a woman, he was sentenced to three years in prison and ten years of exile in Oubangui-Chari. In 1942, a sentence reduction was granted to him and in 1946, M'ba returned to Gabon. He started a political party of inter-African citizens. In 1951 he broke from the Communist Party. Initially rejected as a candidate for public office, in 1952 he was elected to a seat in the national assembly, starting his political career. Forty years after his death, the Léon M'ba Memorial was built in Libreville to honor his memory. He died in Paris, where he was receiving treatment for cancer.
Politician. He served as the first Prime Minister of Gabon from May 21, 1957 to February 21, 1967. He also served as the first President of Gabon from February 12, 1961 until his death in office from cancer on November 28, 1967, a few days after taking his presidential oath at the Gabonese embassy in Paris. He had won this election without any opposition. From the 12th to 21st February, he concurrently held the posts of Prime Minister and President of Gabon. Born a member of the Fang-Beti ethnic group from the Congo, his parents were educated and they had a comfortable lifestyle. He attended Roman Catholic schools. After entering the work force, he became in the French colonial administration as a customs agent. Being outspoken, he was fast to defend other Fangs. in December of 1922, he was sentenced to prison after having committed a minor crime of providing a colleague with falsified documents. After being released, he became more involved with the Fangs, accepting many of their traditions. He was associated with the French Communist Party. In 1931, though little evidence for conviction, for his involvement with a murder of a woman, he was sentenced to three years in prison and ten years of exile in Oubangui-Chari. In 1942, a sentence reduction was granted to him and in 1946, M'ba returned to Gabon. He started a political party of inter-African citizens. In 1951 he broke from the Communist Party. Initially rejected as a candidate for public office, in 1952 he was elected to a seat in the national assembly, starting his political career. Forty years after his death, the Léon M'ba Memorial was built in Libreville to honor his memory. He died in Paris, where he was receiving treatment for cancer.
Bio by: Linda Davis
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