Gabon’s Foreign Minister Michael Moussa Adamo has died after suffering a heart attack during a cabinet meeting on Friday.

The 62-year-old died “despite efforts by specialists” to revive him, a government statement said.

“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,” President Ali Bongo tweeted.

Notre ministre des Affaires étrangères, Michael Moussa Adamo, s'en est allé ce jour.
Il était un très grand diplomate, un véritable homme d'Etat.
Pour moi, il était d'abord un ami, loyal et fidèle, sur lequel j'ai toujours pu compter.
C'est une perte immense pour le #Gabon.#RIP

— Ali Bongo Ondimba (@PresidentABO) January 20, 2023

Mr Adamo was a well-known television broadcaster before joining politics.

He had served in several government roles, including as Mr Bongo’s special advisor, before becoming foreign minister last year.