Following a coup that removed him from power, Ali Bongo and his family have been freed after staying under detention for two years. They have relocated to Angola, where discussions on their legal situation continue amidst international scrutiny.
Ousted Gabonese President Ali Bongo and Family Freed, Journey to Angola
Ousted Gabonese President Ali Bongo and Family Freed, Journey to Angola
Ali Bongo, the former President of Gabon, along with his family, is released from detention after two years and heads to Angola amidst ongoing corruption charges.
Gabonese ex-president Ali Bongo has escaped detention and traveled to Angola, accompanied by his family, as confirmed by Angolan officials. This development follows their release after a two-year period of being under arrest in connection with allegations of corruption. The Angolan presidency confirmed via social media that Bongo’s wife, Sylvia, and their son, Noureddin, have also joined him in Luanda.
Sylvia and Noureddin Bongo were originally detained in 2023, with Sylvia charged in connection with serious allegations, including embezzlement and forgery. Her lawyer has characterized the detention period as unlawful. Their release was reportedly influenced by health concerns, as stated by Gabon’s prosecutor, Eddy Minang, who emphasized that the legal proceedings against them are not over.
This shift in the Bongo family’s circumstances follows a meeting between Angolan President João Lourenço, chair of the African Union, and Gabon’s current leader, Brice Oligui Nguema. The latter led the military coup ousting Bongo and subsequently won the presidency in a recent election. Gabon’s opposition leader, Alain Claude Bilie-by-Nze, remarked that Nguema conceded to international pressures in what he termed an abuse of power regarding the Bongo family's detention.
Ali Bongo served as Gabon's president for 14 years, succeeding his father, who ruled Gabon for over four decades. Despite the nation’s wealth derived from oil, a significant portion of Gabon’s population remains below the poverty threshold. In a recent positive gesture towards Gabon’s international relations, the African Union reinstated its membership, previously suspended due to the government changes. Chairman Mahmoud Ali Youssouf expressed hope that Gabon’s example would promote constitutional restoration across Africa, amidst several West African nations resisting a return to civilian governance after military takeovers.
