Gabon’s Minister of Foreign Affairs has died of a heart attack during a cabinet meeting. 

Michael Moussa Adamo, who was an ally of President Ali Bongo Ondimba, died “despite efforts by specialists” to revive him, the government said in a brief statement on Friday.

A source close to the presidential palace said that he “had sat down at the start of the cabinet meeting and began to feel unwell”, according to AFP.

The 62-year-old was taken to a military hospital while unconscious but died just after midday.

President Bongo described Moussa Adamo on Twitter as “a 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.

Moussa Adamo, who was Gabon’s ambassador to the United States, was appointed foreign minister in March last year.