His wife Sylvia Bongo posted on social media that the transfer was possible because of a “significant improvement” in her husband’s health.

The family was extremely grateful to Morocco’s King Mohammed VI for his invitation, she added.Mr Bongo is thought to have suffered a stroke while on an official visit to the Saudi capital although there has been no official explanation of why he is seeking medical treatment.

Gabon’s government spokesman Guy-Bertrand Mapangou told BBC Afrique the 59-year-old’s health was so improved that, should he want to, he could begin work by meeting his chiefs of staff.

“The president is doing better and better. We will even say that he is better," he said.

Mr Bongo was sworn in for a second seven-year term in September 2016, after a bitterly disputed election in the oil-rich nation.

He took over from his late father Omar Bongo, who had ruled Gabon for 41 years until his death in 2009.