A state funeral service was conducted on 16 June, which was declared a day of national mourning by acting president Rose Francine Rogombé.

[4] The Gabonese government maintained that he was in Spain for a few days of rest following the "intense emotional shock" of his wife's death, but eventually admitted that he was in a Spanish clinic "undergoing a medical check up".

[5] AFP eventually released a report stating among other things that "While Gabon's government has insisted he was undergoing a medical check-up, several sources said he was being treated for intestinal cancer, which they said had reached an advanced stage".

"[citation needed] The Prime Minister made no comment on Bongo's state of health after reading the statement to reporters.

[6] On 8 June 2009, the BBC released a report stating that: "The Spanish foreign affairs ministry backed [Prime Minister] Ndong's assertion, saying: "We have confirmed that he [President Bongo] is alive.

Speaking on French radio, spokesman Raphael N'Toutoume added that the latest update he had heard was good news – and that Bongo was preparing to leave the clinic.

[2] Rose Francine Rogombé was sworn in as interim president on 10 June 2009, immediately declaring a period of mourning lasting thirty days.

[11] Bongo's corpse was flown by aircraft from his death place in Barcelona and arrived at Libreville's airport on 11 June at approximately 16:15 pm (01:15 AEST).

[11] A crowd of around 10,000 people, including diplomats, politicians and members of the country's security forces were waiting at the airport for the dead President's arrival.

[11] Several people were tearful, including cabinet chief Pascaline, also known as Bongo's daughter, who lay emotional in the arms of President Denis Sassou Nguesso.

[11] Young people in the crowd were seen to wear T-shirts decorated with Bongo photos and slogans which read: "I love and admire my president".

[11] Also on hand were Nicolas Sarkozy and Jacques Chirac — the current and former French presidents and the only Western heads of state to attend.

Cameroon's Paul Biya placed a wreath of flowers at the foot of the coffin, as did Burkina Faso's Blaise Compaoré.

[14] The Angolan Prime Minister, António Paulo Kassoma, flew to Libreville on 15 June to represent President José Eduardo dos Santos at the funeral.