The death of Omar Bongo

The BBC reported the death of Gabon's President Omar Bongo will all the respect that you would expect from the BBC for a non-democratic leader. We were told that he "assumed power" in 1967 and we were told in admiring tones that Omar Bongo had been one of Africa's longest serving Presidents. What we were not told was that Omar Bongo had ruled Gabon using violence and corruption and many believe amassed a huge personal fortune from money siphoned off from that raised by Gabon's oil boom. The BBC are oddly reluctant to criticise a black Muslim African leader who has ruled via fear and has stolen money from his people. However the death of a white right of centre leader of a democratic nation is only reported if "context" is given by discussing his faults and possible crimes against his Country. Odd, most odd.

I am aware that the BBC website has articles on the possible crimes of Omar Bongo, but I am referring to the limited radio coverage yesterday.